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Zimbabwe: Election chief Mutambanengwe resigns Zimbabwe referendum 'tentatively set for 16 March'
(about 7 hours later)
Zimbabwe's election chief has resigned citing ill health, state media reports. Zimbabwe's key referendum on a new constitution has been "tentatively" set for 16 March, government minister Eric Matinenga has said.
Simpson Mutambanengwe resignation comes as Zimbabwe gears up for a crucial constitutional referendum and elections later this year. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the referendum would herald a major step towards democratic reform, AFP news agency reports.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had been pushing for key reforms to guarantee free elections. It would be followed by elections, expected to be contested by Mr Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe.
The poll will herald the end of the shaky coalition he formed with President Robert Mugabe after the 2008 election, which was marred by violence. The date was announced as the election chief resigned, citing ill health.
Mr Tsvangirai - the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - boycotted a run-off vote in 2008 after claiming he had been robbed of victory during the first round. The 88-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980.
Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe are expected to run against each other in the election. Details of the new constitution, agreed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, have not been officially released.
But it is believed that it sets a limit of two terms for future presidents.
Shaky coalition
Mr Mugabe and the Mr Tsvangirai are expected to urge voters to approve the constitution, opening the way for elections to be held under the new rules.
The election would herald the end of the shaky coalition the two leaders formed after the disputed 2008 election, when Mr Tsvangirai - the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - boycotted a run-off after claiming he had been robbed of victory during the first round.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party was also accused of unleashing violence against MDC supporters, an allegation it denied.Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party was also accused of unleashing violence against MDC supporters, an allegation it denied.
Justice Minister Chinamasa said that Mr Mugabe had accepted the resignation of Mr Mutambanengwe, a retired judge who took the post after the controversial 2008 poll, the state-owned Herald newspaper reports. The two parties then formed a coalition government under pressure from regional leaders.
"The resignation is on the grounds of health," Mr Chinamasa is quoted as saying "I can confirm 16 March is the tentative referendum date," said Mr Matinenga, the constitutional affairs minister, an MDC member.
His replacement would be chosen after discussions involving the coalition partners, Mr Chinamasa added. "I've indicated that maybe there's a need to rethink so that at least we have two days of voting for the referendum," he added, in a briefing to journalists in the capital, Harare.
Last month, New York-based campaign group Human Rights Watch called for reforms to the electoral body, judiciary and media, alleging they were loyal to Zanu-PF. Sources say the general elections are expected to be held between 15 and 30 July.
Following talks later in the month, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai said they had reached a deal over a new constitution, removing a key obstacle to elections. Meanwhile, election commission chief Simpson Mutambanengwe, who was expected to organise the votes this year, has resigned, said Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu-PF.
They said the constitution would be put to a referendum. "The resignation is on the grounds of health," Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper quotes Mr Chinamasa as saying
Once approved by voters, elections are to be held. MDC Secretary-General and Finance Minister Tendai Biti said his decision was regrettable.
"The judge is a man of good standing," he said.
A replacement for Mr Mutambanengwe, a retired judge who was appointed after the disputed 2008 poll, would be chosen after discussions involving the coalition partners, Mr Chinamasa said.