Chinamasas electoral law changes against SADC guidelines

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has proposed to ban civic participation in voter education as well as punish those who announce election results before they are announced by an election officer. SADC mediator on Zimbabwe, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa is reportedly working on an election roadmap for Zimbabwe, which is modelled along the lines of the regional blocs Mauritius principles and guidelines governing elections.

But the 2004 Grand Baie Guidelines, adopted in Mauritius, stipulate that SADC members will uphold full participation of citizens in the political process, as well as freedom of association, political tolerance, equal access to state media for all political parties, equal opportunity to vote and be voted for, and voter education.

President Zuma is also reportedly working on a document that will see parties contesting the elections in Zimbabwe, which will lay the basis for establishing impartial, all-inclusive, competent and accountable national electoral bodies staffed by qualified personnel. Other proposals, as published on the NewsDay website on Wednesday include the appointment of special police liaison officers and special investigation committees in provincial centres, to handle cases of politically-motivated violence or intimidation in each province.

The special liaison officers would be senior police officers, to be appointed by Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, who would work closely with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and a multi-party liaison committee during the election period.

John Huruva, an MDC activist in London told SW Radio Africa that for Chihuri to appoint liaison officers and investigating committees is tantamout to ZANU PF appointing its own officers, since the Commissioner has it on record that he does not and will not recognise any other leader but Robert Mugabe.