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Finance Minister says no funds for elections this year
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
April 28, 2011

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news280111/mugseye280111.htm

There is no money to fund elections in Zimbabwe this year and the country has a large deficit to deal with, according to Finance Minister Tendai Biti. The minister reportedly said that the economy had not performed as well as predicted and revenues had remained the same.

Robert Mugabe has previously said he wanted elections in Zimbabwe this year, but the lack of funds, his bad health and resistance from the MDC factions, civic groups and SADC could all conspire to derail his plans.

In terms of numbers Biti said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has submitted a budget of $400 million for elections, including a referendum on the constitution. "Where do I get that kind of money when I am looking for $150 million to fund the budget deficit if the revenues remain as they are?" reports quoted the Minister as saying.

A target of $2.7 billion in revenue had been set by government for 2011, but bad economic policies and the recent escalation of state sponsored violence are believed to have halted any progress made by the formation of the failed unity government.

The constitution making process must be completed ahead of any poll, as agreed to by the three parties to the Global Political Agreement and elections may now end up being scheduled for 2012.

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