Sharp division on proposed electoral law amendment

Political parties in Zimbabwe are sharply divided over proposed amendments to the electoral law that will see the adoption of a polling station-based voter's roll.

Justice and Legal Affairs minister Patrick Chinamasa has brought an Electoral Amendment Bill to Parliament that would allow the recently established independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ditch the current ward-based voters' roll for a polling station-based voters' roll.

Under the present ward-based voters' roll where there are 1 965 wards in Zimbabwe, once registered a voter can cast their ballot in any of the polling stations in their ward.

Unlike the ward-based voters' roll, the polling station-based voters' roll provides for a specific polling station where you are allowed to vote – the only place where your name appears on the voters' register.

President Mugabe's Zanu PF and the MDC led by Welshman Ncube say the polling station-based voters roll is good because it prevents duplicate voting.

PM Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party has showed little willingness to co-operate in adopting the proposed polling station-based voters' roll.

Amid the sharp differences over the matter, negotiations would start soon in Parliament to adopt the polling station-based voters' roll, a move that has angered its coalition partners.