Electoral Law aimed at ensuring Mugabe victory

Parliament reconvenes next Tuesday after a 10-day break to consider legislation that includes an Electoral Laws Amendment Bill, expected to set the framework for next March’s joint municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections. The Amendment Bill is also expected to do the gerrymandering for the veteran leader, Mugabe, and legally set up an electoral body, which has been stuffed with government cronies. Information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the government would move to adopt the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill without fear or favour and would not be deterred by criticism led by former colonial power Britain. Ndlovu accused the former colonial power of double standards, saying British Premier Gordon Brown was ducking an election, whereas Mugabe was prepared to face the voters and was confident of a resounding victory. The Electoral Laws Amendment Bill would transfer responsibility for managing the voters’ roll to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and bar members of the security forces from being seconded to or hired by the commission. There are however concerns that the ongoing voter registration is being presided over by Registrar of Voters Tobaiwa Mudede, an alleged proxy of the veteran ruler who has helped him steal previous elections. The government has refused to compile a new voter register despite the complaints that the current voters roll is a shambles. The Electoral Laws Amendment Bill also empowers the ZEC to do the demarcation of constituencies, a role previously assigned to the Delimitation Commission. But there has been an outcry over the appointment of senior personnel to the presumed independent ZEC. Investigations by The Zimbabwean have revealed that the new ZEC director of administration, J Chekenyere, is a former management and financial accountant in government. I.T.A Mushangwe, who was appointed director polling and training is a former district registrar for Karoi, Bindura and Marondera districts. He is also a former deputy provincial registrar for Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East provinces. Besides that he was also the provincial registrar for Masvingo province. The person who was appointed director of election logistics, J.R Murenje is the former provincial registrar for Mashonaland East and Midlands. The former principal employment officer for the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in Matabeleland North, J Chibanda, is the newly appointed director of human resources in ZEC. Dr Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional will allow any opposition political party to form a new government. What Zimbabweans will witness is a well stage-managed election in which President Robert Mugabe will retain his post as the head of government, said Madhuku. I strongly feel that Zanu (PF) should not waste taxpayer’s money to run a bogus election in order to impose its rule for another five years. The MDC claims it has unearthed myriad anomalies following a comprehensive audit of the voters’ roll. The opposition party has requested an audience with the ZEC or an all-party meeting to discuss civic education and a publicity campaign to raise voter awareness of an extended registration exercise. The request has been shot down by the ZEC