Zimbabwe publishes electoral reform bill

Zimbabwe publishes electoral reform bill

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THE Zimbabwean government has published a draft bill to reform electoral laws following a surprise agreement last month between the ruling party and the opposition, a state-run daily said Saturday.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change reached an agreement with the government in late September on the adoption of a bill that would pave the way for joint presidential and legislative elections next year.

The Herald newspaper said the draft Electoral Laws Amendment Bill 2007 would bar the military, police and prison officers from any involvement in elections beyond providing security.

It would empower aggrieved candidates to demand recounts and require that the government-appointed electoral commission consult all contesting parties before marking constituency and ward boundaries, the report said.

It would also compel public broadcasters to report impartially and give equal airtime to all candidates, said The Herald.

Previous elections in Zimbabwe have been tainted by charges of electoral fraud and complaints over the role of the military in the running of the polls.

The main opposition and western observers claimed the country's last presidential polls in 2002 were rigged to hand President Robert Mugabe victory, prompting the United States and the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on the veteran ruler and members of his inner circle.

The election reform bill is expected to be submitted to parliament within 30 days.

Mugabe was chosen in March by his ruling Zanu PF party to stand again as its candidate in presidential elections in 2008. - AFP
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