Electoral Amendment Bill Sails Through Senate

WASHINGTON —  The Zimbabwe Electoral Amendment Bill sailed through after its third reading in the Senate on Wednesday despite attempts by the upper house members of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai to push for more changes in the voters roll in line with the new constitution.

The MDC-T senators walked out in protest during the second reading of the bill Tuesday, and last week they turned down the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs’ attempt to read the bill to allow for time to study the amendments.

Matabeleland South senator Watchy Sibanda says it is unfortunate that their Zanu PF counterparts, who accounted for the majority vote on the bill, are serving their political interests instead of considering interests of ordinary Zimbabweans.

Sibanda said his party wants the bill to specify changes in issues surrounding voter education, voter registration, the use of voting slips, allowing prisoners and Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote, and the involvement of the registrar general in the voting process.