| Zimbabwe's parliament this week passed new laws | | | | The talks are currently deadlocked over a new |
| easing restrictions on political dissidence and the news | | | | constitution and whether to postpone the elections. |
| media. The laws, which are due to be signed by | | | | Katutwa's network of 35 pro-democracy groups says |
| President Robert Mugabe in the near future, are to | | | | one measure seeks to make the Election Commission |
| prepare for elections next year. But a group of | | | | more independent. But he says it remains to be seen |
| pro-democracy organizations in Zimbabwe say that | | | | whether the Commission, whose members are |
| much remains to be done before a free and fair vote | | | | appointed by the president, will indeed be impartial. |
| can be held. VOA Correspondent Scott Bobb reports | | | | He notes that the commission is working on new voter |
| from Johannesburg. | | | | registration lists and new voting districts. He says |
| The Chairman of the Zimbabwe Election Support | | | | independent audits of these efforts are needed to |
| Network, Noel Kututwa, told reporters In Johannesburg | | | | assure there is no rigging. |
| Thursday that laws easing restrictions on opposition | | | | Pro-democracy groups say most importantly the ruling |
| activity and the news media are an improvement over | | | | party must stop using government facilities, such as |
| Zimbabwe's old electoral framework. But he said they | | | | transport and accommodation, when it holds political |
| do not go far enough. | | | | rallies like the Million Man March in Harare three weeks |
| "I don't think there's going to be a free and fair election | | | | ago. |
| in March 2008. There're still a lot of things that need to | | | | Finally, Katutwa says, intimidation must end by |
| be changed before March," he said. "A fundamental | | | | government supporters, including members of the |
| issue that has to be changed is the mindset of the | | | | security forces, veterans of the independence war |
| Zimbabwean voter." | | | | and, in particular, the youth militia. |
| Kututwa said Zimbabwean voters in recent years | | | | "The youth militia has wreaked so much havoc and it |
| have been constricted by limits on political assembly, | | | | is one institution that is used for violence and it is used |
| by one-sided information from state-owned news | | | | for intimidating ordinary voters," he added. "So we |
| media and by a lack of information on electoral | | | | want to see that changed." |
| procedures. He said Zimbabweans need more time to | | | | Katutwa concludes that more time is needed to carry |
| understand the changes. | | | | out these reforms. He says the elections should be |
| The new laws remove some restrictions. They were | | | | postponed by several months at least. |
| supported by the ruling ZANU-PF party and the two | | | | The opposition also wants the elections to be |
| factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic | | | | postponed, but Mr. Mugabe has said they will go ahead |
| Change. The parties for months have been engaged in | | | | as scheduled. |
| negotiations brokered by South Africa. | | | | |