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