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Ballot update - Issue number 12 - April and May 2010
Zimbabwe Election Support Network
April 01, 2010

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Introduction

This period saw a number of developments including the acquittal of Roy Benett of all charges of banditry and terrorism laid against him. In an interesting twist the Herald of 10/05/2010 also noted the offer by Bennett to forego his deputy ministership post for the good of the inclusive government. While the swearing in of Bennet was an "outstanding issue" in the inclusive government, other unilateral appointments such as Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney-General remain outstanding issues with no indications of compromise from other parties in the inclusive government. The period also saw the appointment of George Chiweshe as Judge President, yet another unilateral appointment by President Robert Mugabe.

The month of April witnessed a number of events such as Independence Day celebrations, the return of the SADC negotiator's team, which recommended the three principals to read the reports presented by the negotiators. ZESN is concerned that these delays that do not seem to advance the resolution of outstanding issues. There is the assumption that the principals would know the content of the report since negotiators negotiate based on already set parameters by the principals and the request by the negotiating team that the principals read the reports by the negotiators seems a delaying tactic. In addition, doubts have been cast on the neutrality of the SADC negotiator after the visit by Julius Malema, ANC Youth League Leader in which he openly condemned MDC and boasted of his party's (ANC) support for ZANU PF.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network remains dedicated to promotion of democratic elections in Zimbabwe. In this vein the organisation continues to analyse the national political environment and closely observe 45 rural constituencies that have been systematically selected. The criteria for selection has been to identify areas with pending by-elections, areas that have experienced inordinately high levels of political violence as well as constituencies in which a candidate succeeded by a notably small margins. This update is informed by observations from the chosen constituencies and broadly captures national political developments in April and May 2010.

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