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| Zimbabwe referendum 'tentatively set for 16 March' | Zimbabwe referendum 'tentatively set for 16 March' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's key referendum on a new constitution has been "tentatively" set for 16 March, government minister Eric Matinenga has said. | Zimbabwe's key referendum on a new constitution has been "tentatively" set for 16 March, government minister Eric Matinenga has said. |
| Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the referendum would herald a major step towards democratic reform, AFP news agency reports. | Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the referendum would herald a major step towards democratic reform, AFP news agency reports. |
| It would be followed by elections, expected to be contested by Mr Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe. | It would be followed by elections, expected to be contested by Mr Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe. |
| The date was announced as the election chief resigned, citing ill health. | The date was announced as the election chief resigned, citing ill health. |
| The 88-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980. | The 88-year-old Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980. |
| Details of the new constitution, agreed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, have not been officially released. | 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. | But it is believed that it sets a limit of two terms for future presidents. |
| 'By hook or by crook' | |
| Mr Mugabe and 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. | 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. |
| The two parties then formed a coalition government under pressure from regional leaders. | The two parties then formed a coalition government under pressure from regional leaders. |
| "I can confirm 16 March is the tentative referendum date," said Mr Matinenga, the constitutional affairs minister, an MDC member. | "I can confirm 16 March is the tentative referendum date," said Mr Matinenga, the constitutional affairs minister, an MDC member. |
| "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. | "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. |
| Sources say the general elections are expected to be held between 15 and 30 July. | Sources say the general elections are expected to be held between 15 and 30 July. |
| Mr Tsvangirai told AFP he would fight to ensure that "no-one is disenfranchised by hook or by crook" in the elections. | |
| "If Mugabe's position that we need a free and fair election is a ruse, then he would have cheated me," he is quoted as saying. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The resignation is on the grounds of health," Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper quotes Mr Chinamasa as saying | "The resignation is on the grounds of health," Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper quotes Mr Chinamasa as saying |
| MDC Secretary-General and Finance Minister Tendai Biti said his decision was regrettable. | MDC Secretary-General and Finance Minister Tendai Biti said his decision was regrettable. |
| "The judge is a man of good standing," he said. | "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. | 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. |
| Zimbabwe's crash-strapped government has also repeatedly said it does not have enough money to hold the votes. | |
| "We are looking for the money," Mr Tsvangirai told AFP. |