Zimbabwe seeks $104m for referendum

2012-10-03 07:39

Multimedia · User Galleries · News in Pictures Send us your pictures · Send us your stories

Special Report

Mugabe signs new Zim constitution into law

President Robert Mugabe has signed Zimbabwe’s new constitution into law, clearing the path to crucial elections later this year.

Harare - Cash-strapped Zimbabwe's electoral commission on Tuesday said it needs $104m to organise a referendum on a new constitution that would pave way for a vote on a successor to the country's shaky coalition government.

No referendum date has been set yet, but long-time President Robert Mugabe said he wants to hold it next month. However, the election body said it needs six weeks to make arrangements for the vote.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chief Joyce Kazembe said the election body was ready to hold a referendum if funds were made available.

In a court filing last week, Mugabe set out plans for the popular votes to be held in the next six months, listing a "referendum, expected to take place during the first week of November".

Zimbabwe is expected to hold new elections sometime next year, the first since a presidential run-off election in 2008 marred by violence.

The tense aftermath of the election forced Mugabe and long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai to form a power-sharing government in 2009 to avoid a tip into a full-fledged conflict.

In the pact which gave birth to the compromise government, the parties agreed to a raft of reforms and crafting a new charter before new elections.

A draft constitution negotiated by Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, Tsvangirai's MDC party and a smaller MDC splinter group was finished in August.

The process was plagued by delays and violence at public meetings.

- AFP

NEXT ON NEWS24X

Achebe's body arrives home

10 minutes ago

Inside News24

Snoop Lion live in CT

Snoop Lion lights it up onstage in Cape Town.
Conned into being a mule

WARNING: Graphic content. Pregnant and sentenced to death.
Underrated dorpies

These seven local towns are pretty great, but often forgotten.
1-week diabetic menu

Diabetic yourself, or have one in the family? Check out this menu.
Beef stew

A delicious beef & barley stew.
Baboons ransack house

Watch this viral video filmed outside Cape Town.
Best of Cannes Week 1

All the red carpet glamour from the world's glitziest film festival.
6 parenting myths

"It'll fall off if you play with it" and other lies parents tell their kids.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.

Friday	15-21°c	Morning clouds. Mild.
Saturday	16-21°c	Afternoon clouds. Mild.
Sunday	15-17°c	Numerous showers. Mostly cloudy. Cool.
Monday	14-18°c	a few showers. More sun than clouds. Mild.
Tuesday	14-19°c	Morning clouds. Mild.
Wednesday	14-18°c	Partly cloudy. Mild.

More weather from Weather24 >

Thursday 14-20°C

Zimbabwe seeks $104m for referendum

Special Report

Other Stories in Zimbabwe...

Inside News24

Welcome to News24

News in your area

Latest comment in Africa

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

Sponsored links

I'm shopping for:

services

Hello

Create Profile

Please provide a username for your profile page:

Hello

Choose a display name:

Edit your avatar:

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Saving your profile

Settings

Saving your settings

Facebook Sign-In