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Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda Says Zimbabwe Should Amend Constitution to Allow Diaspora Vote


FILE: Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda presides over a parliament session where a motion is moved to impeach President Robert Mugabe, Nov. 21, 2017 at the Zimbabwean Parliament in Harare, Zimbabwe.
FILE: Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda presides over a parliament session where a motion is moved to impeach President Robert Mugabe, Nov. 21, 2017 at the Zimbabwean Parliament in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, says Zimbabwe’s constitution should be amended to allow people in the diaspora to vote in national elections, according to the privately-owned NewsDay newspaper.

The newspaper quoted Mudenda as saying “amendments to the Electoral Act should clearly specify the procedures and mechanism for registration and voting for citizens in the diaspora.

“ZEC should be empowered through the Electoral Act to censure, or even disqualify political parties or candidates that act with impunity during the electoral processes. There is need to amend the Constitution to encapsulate the diaspora vote.”

Mudenda made these remarks in Kariba when he was addressing lawmakers and other stakeholders at a workshop discussing the Electoral Amendment Bill.

Zimbabwe has already ruled out the diaspora vote with some senior Zanu PF officials and state officials saying it will be difficult to conduct elections outside the country, especially in nations that imposed targeted sanctions imposed on ruling party activists.

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