Zimbabwe's leaders have celebrated their country's independence day, its first under the coalition government that brought the two rivals together.
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president, and Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister, marked the occasion together for the first time on Saturday, raising hopes that political tensions are easing.
Mugabe told a crowd of about 40,000 Zimbabweans, gathered at a stadium in Harare, the capital, that the celebrations were "indeed unique".
Mugabe has been Zimbabwe's president since the country's 1980 independence from Britain, but this year joined with Tsvangirai in a deal brokered by Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president.
Their unity government has been in place since February, but stray incidents of political violence among supporters of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have continued.
Speaking at the anniversary celebrations, Mugabe, who has used previous anniversaries to attack Tsvangirai, called for "national healing".
"As Zimbabweans, we need to create an environment of tolerance, and treat one another with dignity and decency, irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation," Mugabe said.
"We are grateful that the formation of an inclusive government has allowed the spirit of oneness in which we celebrate our 29th year of independence."
Economic struggle
Zimbabwe is in the grip of an economic crisis, ravaged by hyperinflation and an unemployment rate of about 90 per cent. Millions of people need food aid.
Analysts blame the crisis on a land redistribution campaign that Mugabe began in 2000, taking land from mainly white farmers and handing it over to his supporters.