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New zones for Zim elections
19/04/2007 13:24 - (SA)
Harare - President Robert Mugabe's government is drawing up new political boundaries to incorporate parts of the ruling party's rural strongholds into the capital Harare ahead of next year's elections, reports said on Thursday.
Parts of Mashonaland East, West and Central are to be incorporated within the boundaries of Harare Metropolitan Province, traditionally a hotbed of support for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
"Harare Metropolitan Province will now have new boundaries and some more wards and it would be taking some areas under Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central," local government Minister Ignatius Chombo told the official Herald newspaper.
"The current 45 wards may be slightly increased and the new boundaries would be gazetted soon," he said.
A similar exercise will be carried out in the second largest city of Bulawayo, which is another MDC stronghold, as well as other cities, the paper said.
Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from white minority rule 27 years ago, is set to stand in presidential elections next year. The poll is expected to coincide with parliamentary elections, brought forward from 2010.
The MDC, which enjoys strong support in most towns and cities, has said it will not take part in any election without major electoral and constitutional reforms to ensure a free and fair poll.
Last week the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which runs all national polls, said it would not be extending the vote to the estimated three million to four million Zimbabweans who have fled economic hardship or political persecution at home.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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