Zim laws 'assault on democracy'
06/06/2006 13:18  - (SA)  

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Harare - Zimbabwe's main opposition party said proposals to amend electoral laws to force all political parties to register were "a clear assault on democracy", according to reports on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe's political parties were registered as voluntary organisations, a situation the ruling party of President Robert Mugabe wanted to change.

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) was to debate recommendations by the state-appointed Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) for all parties to be registered.

This, the ESC said in a report last year, would prevent the emergence of "rogue parties".

Political parties 'protected'

It was reported that the legislators from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were not in favour of the proposals.

Tendai Biti, MDC member of parliament for Harare East, said: "The recommendation is a clear assault on democracy."

Biti said there was a constitutional provision protecting the existence of political parties.

The MP was quoted as saying: "The existence of political parties and trade unions is guaranteed in terms of section 21 of the constitution, which deals with freedom of association and assembly."

State media had suggested that the registration of parties would allow the authorities to weed out those planning "sabotage", a word that was emotionally charged for the MDC.

Security minister in court

In March, several opposition politicians were arrested and accused of planning acts of sabotage after a stash of weapons was discovered in the eastern city of Mutare. The charges were later dropped.

National security minister Didymus Mutasa on Monday appeared to stoke the fears of the MDC.

The reports said that although he didn't mention the party by name, he said there were "some parties bent on destabilising the nation".

He said: "This is a shame to the integrity of our nation. We should have a law that provides for the registration of political parties."

Senior opposition politician Welshman Ncube said the registration proposals were a "futile exercise".

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