Mugabe shifts goal posts ahead of polls

Mugabe shifts goal posts ahead of polls

MUGABE: Tightening grip on power

• Zimbabwe's future lies in voting

• Gwisai warns MDC ahead of poll

• Tsvangirai's message to Zimbabweans

• MDC threatens poll boycott

• Mugabe birthday sparks retirement talk

• MDC dismisses Mbeki talks claim

• Mugabe pulls Zim out of C'nwealth

• Mugabe not stepping down

By Agencies
22/02/04
THE Zimbabwe government plans to tighten electoral laws ahead of next year's parliamentary polls, the state-run Herald newspaper reported on Monday.

The proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, which include giving the state control over voter education, are contained in a bill published in the past week and due to be debated in parliament, the Herald reported.

The announcement comes at a time when the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has threatened to boycott next year's polls unless certain conditions, including an independent electoral commission, are met.

According to the Herald, the proposed amendments include banning foreign donations towards voter education unless they are made through the state-appointed Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC).

"The bill allows the minister of justice, legal and parliamentary affairs to assign any person in the employment of the state to perform secretarial and administrative functions for the commission," the paper added.

According to the Herald the bill also seeks to make political graffiti in public places an offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.

The opposition, which won 57 out of 120 contested seats in parliamentary elections in 2000, claims President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) stole victory from it through violence and intimidation.

It has demanded that more than a dozen conditions be met before it is willing to participate in next year's elections, including that the poll be held in accordance with standards set for the region, and the repeal of strict press and security laws. - Sapa-AFP
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