Zimbabwe backtracks on its promise to clear the way for diaspora to vote
Zimbabwe does not have enough time before its general election in July to make the constitutional changes necessary to allow people living outside the country to vote, Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo said, backtracking on a statement he made a week ago. Zimbabweans living abroad should return home and register to vote in an election that will probably take place in July, Moyo told a conference in London on Tuesday. Last week, he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television that the government was working on logistics to allow people outside Zimbabwe to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections, and that it was their constitutional right to do so. "It is the desire of the current establishment to ensure everyone participates," Moyo said at the London conference. "Unfortunately, legally and logistically this is not possible." The refusal of former president Robert Mugabe’s government to allow members of the diaspora to vote sparked disputes with the opposition over the past tw...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.