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Zimbabwe passes 2008 election law | Zimbabwe passes 2008 election law |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a compromise bill on constitutional change that will allow presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. | Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a compromise bill on constitutional change that will allow presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. |
Members of parliament from both the ruling Zanu-PF and the fractured opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supported the bill. | Members of parliament from both the ruling Zanu-PF and the fractured opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supported the bill. |
All 111 MPs present voted in favour of the bill to amend the constitution. | All 111 MPs present voted in favour of the bill to amend the constitution. |
The bill, the result of talks led by South Africa, allows parliament to pick President Robert Mugabe's successor. | The bill, the result of talks led by South Africa, allows parliament to pick President Robert Mugabe's successor. |
The amendments are expected to re-draw electoral boundaries, increase the number of MPs and bring forward parliamentary elections by two years. | The amendments are expected to re-draw electoral boundaries, increase the number of MPs and bring forward parliamentary elections by two years. |
New consensus | New consensus |
The bill also allows parliament, dominated by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF, to choose a presidential successor if the incumbent does not finish his term in office. | The bill also allows parliament, dominated by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF, to choose a presidential successor if the incumbent does not finish his term in office. |
Analysts expect Zanu-PF to dominate the joint parliamentary and presidential elections next year and for Mr Mugabe to then put a hand-picked successor in place. | Analysts expect Zanu-PF to dominate the joint parliamentary and presidential elections next year and for Mr Mugabe to then put a hand-picked successor in place. |
Zimbabweans are suffering severe shortages of food and fuelBut MDC member of parliament Trudy Stevenson told the BBC news website that Mr Mugabe may not have enough support within Zanu-PF to install his own choice as president should he leave office early. | Zimbabweans are suffering severe shortages of food and fuelBut MDC member of parliament Trudy Stevenson told the BBC news website that Mr Mugabe may not have enough support within Zanu-PF to install his own choice as president should he leave office early. |
Mr Mugabe, 83, has been president of Zimbabwe since independence from the UK in 1980. | Mr Mugabe, 83, has been president of Zimbabwe since independence from the UK in 1980. |
The country is in the grip of a deep economic crisis which saw inflation soar past 7,000% in July before slowing in August to about 6,500% - still the world's highest rate by far. | The country is in the grip of a deep economic crisis which saw inflation soar past 7,000% in July before slowing in August to about 6,500% - still the world's highest rate by far. |
There is a new spirit of consensus between the MDC and the government following talks mediated by South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg. | |
The MDC supported the bill because it will eliminate appointed MPs from parliament and will make the commission in charge of re-drawing electoral boundaries more independent, said Ms Stevenson. | The MDC supported the bill because it will eliminate appointed MPs from parliament and will make the commission in charge of re-drawing electoral boundaries more independent, said Ms Stevenson. |
The opposition still wants a completely new constitution, but Ms Stevenson said an understanding had been reached in the mediation process to produce such a document. | The opposition still wants a completely new constitution, but Ms Stevenson said an understanding had been reached in the mediation process to produce such a document. |