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Zim exiles can't vote in 2008
17/04/2007 13:48 - (SA)
Harare - The Zimbabwean authorities will not extend the right to vote in next year's presidential and parliamentary elections to millions of citizens living abroad, reports said on Tuesday.
Those outside the country will not vote because the law has not changed, said a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which runs national polls.
Only those that would be on official government duty would vote, said the spokesperson, Utloile Silaigwana in comments carried by the state-controlled Herald.
The disenfranchisement of between three and four million Zimbabweans living mainly in neighbouring South Africa and former colonial power Britain will create a bone of contention ahead of the 2008 polls.
Opposition and civic rights groups say civilians forced to leave Zimbabwe because of political persecution or worsening poverty should be given the right to vote.
According to Zimbabwe's electoral law, only those serving on government business, such as embassy staff or the uniformed forces on peace-keeping duty, are allowed to cast their votes outside the country.
Civilians living outside the country are seen as potential supporters of opposition parties such as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
An appeal against the law in the country's Supreme Court by exiled Zimbabwean voters was dismissed ahead of 2005 parliamentary polls.
President Robert Mugabe has been chosen by his ruling Zanu-PF party to stand in the presidential poll, but the MDC says it will boycott the elections unless there are major electoral and constitutional reforms.
Sapa-dpa
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