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