Cabinet agrees to combine presidential & parliamentary elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
18 April, 2007

The Herald newspaper reports that the cabinet had approved proposals to harmonise presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008. It said the Cabinet had met on Monday and endorsed all proposals, except the issue of whether the Senate should be chosen through proportional representation or through elections. Patrick Chinamasa, the Minister for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is quoted saying the issue of setting-up the Senate would be finalised by the ruling party’s Central Committee.

The cabinet agreed to limit the term of office of a president to 5 years from 6. The number of seats in the Senate will change from 66 to 84 and the seats in the House of the Assembly from 150 to 210. In the event that a sitting president dies, resigns or is not able to continue with their duties, Parliament will sit as an electoral college to elect a successor. The current law calls for a public election within 90 days.

Critics have insisted that harmonisation is not a practical idea because there is not enough time or resources to hold both elections by 2008. David Chimhini, director of the Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust, which has peace committees around the country, said last week that the government cannot print identification cards and passports due to a lack of funds. People without these documents would be deprived of the vote. And there would need to be a new voters roll to account for the nearly one million people who were displaced during the government’s demolition exercises. Chimhini also stressed that the government sponsored violence against opposition officials and supporters has instilled fear in the electorate. Much peace building and voters education needs to be in place before it would be possible to hold any elections. Are Zimbabweans once again going to be deprived of a chance of deciding their future?