ZIMBABWE: Activists critical of franchise denial to expats

Subject: ZIMBABWE: Activists critical of franchise denial to expats
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:56:03 -0700

ZIMBABWE: Activists critical of franchise denial to expats

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]


JOHANNESBURG, 11 November (IRIN) - Human rights activists have criticised
the Zimbabwe government for denying citizens living abroad the right to
vote.

"Zimbabweans' right to vote is enshrined in the constitution", Gabriel
Shumba, a human rights lawyer with the South Africa-based Zimbabwe Exiles
Forum, told IRIN.

He was dismissive of the argument made in parliament on Wednesday by
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa,
that the constitution did not extend the franchise to people residing
outside Zimbabwe.

Parliamentary elections are due in March next year.

The official daily, The Herald, on Thursday reported Chinmasa as saying
that even if the constitution gave non-resident Zimbabweans the vote,
their registration would not be possible because Zimbabwean officials are
banned from travelling to most of the countries where expatriates are
based.

"There is a travel ban against the Zanu-PF leadership, from the President
down to the lowest ZANU-PF [the ruling party] cadre, to travel to European
Union countries, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...
How could ZANU-PF be able to canvass for support of Zimbabweans in the
diaspora when its political leadership suffers from a travel ban in those
countries?" he remarked.

Emily Wellman, another Zimbabwean human rights activist based in South
Africa, cited estimates of three million Zimbabweans living outside the
country, and said most of them were probably critical of the ruling party.

Considering how closely the last parliamentary polls were contested, "even
a million votes could influence the outcome, so why would the ZANU-PF want
Zimbabweans living abroad to vote?" she asked.




[ENDS]

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