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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Zimbabwe diaspora 'may get vote' | Zimbabwe diaspora 'may get vote' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's government and opposition have reportedly agreed ground-breaking changes for next year's elections. | Zimbabwe's government and opposition have reportedly agreed ground-breaking changes for next year's elections. |
| Sources at the talks mediated by South Africa say that everyone born in the country may be allowed to vote. | Sources at the talks mediated by South Africa say that everyone born in the country may be allowed to vote. |
| If confirmed, this would grant suffrage to the huge Zimbabwean diaspora - believed to be as many as four million. | If confirmed, this would grant suffrage to the huge Zimbabwean diaspora - believed to be as many as four million. |
| The talks are also said to have agreed that the Electoral Commission in charge of next year's planned elections should be truly independent. | The talks are also said to have agreed that the Electoral Commission in charge of next year's planned elections should be truly independent. |
| Sources within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have also told the BBC that the notorious public order act - which dates from the time of white rule and has been used by President Mugabe's government so suppress the opposition - will be abolished. | Sources within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have also told the BBC that the notorious public order act - which dates from the time of white rule and has been used by President Mugabe's government so suppress the opposition - will be abolished. |
| There has been no public comment on the reported deal from the Zimbabwean government but last week the MDC voted with the ruling Zanu-PF to pass an amendment to the constitution, because of the progress it said had been made at the talks. | |
| Zimbabwe is in economic crisis, with unemployment estimated at 80% and shortages of many basic commodities. | |
| End of hated act? | End of hated act? |
| Details of the agreement reached last week at the Pretoria talks have been largely confirmed by the London based newsletter, Africa Confidential. | Details of the agreement reached last week at the Pretoria talks have been largely confirmed by the London based newsletter, Africa Confidential. |
| The MDC surprised many by voting with Zanu-PF last week | |
| The newsletter says that South African President Thabo Mbeki himself told MDC faction leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara that Zanu-PF was prepared to amend radically the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). | The newsletter says that South African President Thabo Mbeki himself told MDC faction leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara that Zanu-PF was prepared to amend radically the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). |
| The POSA amendment would permit all parties to hold public rallies without prior notification to the police and to canvass support without obstruction from the security forces. | The POSA amendment would permit all parties to hold public rallies without prior notification to the police and to canvass support without obstruction from the security forces. |
| The governing party is also said to be willing to work with the MDC to draw up a new electoral law, which would allow parliament instead of the president to nominate members to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). | The governing party is also said to be willing to work with the MDC to draw up a new electoral law, which would allow parliament instead of the president to nominate members to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). |
| The constitutional amendment which was passed last week by MPs, is said to increase the number of MPs in the Assembly, from 150 to 210 seats, and in the Senate, from 60 to 93 seats. | |
| Zimbabwe's economy is in ruin, with severe shortages of food and fuel | |
| Additionally, it abolishes the president's power to appoint MPs who will all be elected under the new rules. | Additionally, it abolishes the president's power to appoint MPs who will all be elected under the new rules. |
| The president will retain the power to appoint provincial governors and influence over the appointment of chiefs to the Senate, but the Assembly will have the power to overrule the Senate. | The president will retain the power to appoint provincial governors and influence over the appointment of chiefs to the Senate, but the Assembly will have the power to overrule the Senate. |
| According to Africa Confidential, the Delimitation Commission, which has redrawn constituency boundaries to the advantage of Zanu-PF, will be abolished and its work taken over by the independent electoral commission. | According to Africa Confidential, the Delimitation Commission, which has redrawn constituency boundaries to the advantage of Zanu-PF, will be abolished and its work taken over by the independent electoral commission. |
| The changes will also allow parliament to choose the next president, should the incumbent die or be incapacitated. | The changes will also allow parliament to choose the next president, should the incumbent die or be incapacitated. |