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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, after consultations with the opposition. 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.