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Zimbabwe poll U-turn challenged | Zimbabwe poll U-turn challenged |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Zimbabwe's main opposition party has gone to court after President Robert Mugabe changed an election law less than two weeks before polls. | Zimbabwe's main opposition party has gone to court after President Robert Mugabe changed an election law less than two weeks before polls. |
On Monday, he issued a decree to allow police officers into polling stations - just two months after they were banned to ensure voting would be secret. | On Monday, he issued a decree to allow police officers into polling stations - just two months after they were banned to ensure voting would be secret. |
Mr Mugabe said the police could be allowed to help disabled people vote. | Mr Mugabe said the police could be allowed to help disabled people vote. |
But a Movement for Democratic Change spokesman said the police could be used to make people vote for Mr Mugabe. | But a Movement for Democratic Change spokesman said the police could be used to make people vote for Mr Mugabe. |
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network said the move reversed electoral reforms made in January, passed after consultations with the opposition. We are really concerned at this last-minute change Nelson Chamisa, MDC | |
This stipulated that police officers had to remain at least 100 metres away from polling stations. | This stipulated that police officers had to remain at least 100 metres away from polling stations. |
"Voters requiring assistance to cast their ballots should be able to designate a person of their choice to help them mark their ballot," ZESN chairperson Noel Kututwa told the privately owned Financial Gazette newspaper. | "Voters requiring assistance to cast their ballots should be able to designate a person of their choice to help them mark their ballot," ZESN chairperson Noel Kututwa told the privately owned Financial Gazette newspaper. |
'Joke' | 'Joke' |
"Mugabe is trying to find ways to manipulate the electoral outcome," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC. | |
"We are really concerned at this last-minute change." | |
He said voters could be afraid of the police and feel pressured to cast their ballots for Mr Mugabe in their presence. | |
Campaigning for the 29 March general elections has been relatively peaceful so far but lobby group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said the poll would be deeply flawed. | Campaigning for the 29 March general elections has been relatively peaceful so far but lobby group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said the poll would be deeply flawed. |
But such fears were dismissed by Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga, who said HRW was biased against Zimbabwe. | But such fears were dismissed by Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga, who said HRW was biased against Zimbabwe. |
"We are not surprised at all by these kind of reports, actually they are becoming a joke," he told the BBC. | "We are not surprised at all by these kind of reports, actually they are becoming a joke," he told the BBC. |
ZESN has noted that there are far fewer polling stations in urban areas, seen as pro-opposition, than in rural areas, where support for Mr Mugabe is strongest. | ZESN has noted that there are far fewer polling stations in urban areas, seen as pro-opposition, than in rural areas, where support for Mr Mugabe is strongest. |
The opposition say they have found evidence of dead people registered to vote including a former minister who died 30 years ago. | The opposition say they have found evidence of dead people registered to vote including a former minister who died 30 years ago. |
Western observers and the MDC said that Zimbabwe's recent elections have not been free and fair. | Western observers and the MDC said that Zimbabwe's recent elections have not been free and fair. |