Zimbabwe votes in constitutional referendum
HARARE: Zimbabweans began voting on Saturday on a draft constitution that
would give President Robert Mugabe wide powers and allow the confiscation of
white farms to resettle blacks.
The two-day referendum was expected to act as a lithmus test for a general
election in April that is likely to present Mugabe with his toughest
opposition challenge since independence from Britain 20 years ago.
"We've now reached a point of no return. People are suffering and want to
change this," a woman told Reuters as she queued up for her turn to vote in
Harare.
Mugabe's ZANU-PF movement has been widely blamed for Zimbabwe's worst
economic crisis in decades.
The vote began peacefully, with no repeat of skirmishes over the past two
weeks between supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC).
The government and its supporters say the draft constitution is truly
democratic and they deny charges that it is designed to entrench Mugabe and
ZANU-PF in power.
A coalition of opposition and civic groups is leading a campaign for a "No"
vote, arguing that the government-sponsored document ignores the public's
demands.
These include abolishing the post of executive state president, introducing
independent commissions to balance the state's power and bringing in
proportional representation.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) in light rain for the southern
African country's first referendum since independence from Britain. Voting
was delayed in some instances due to logistical problems.
Just over five million people are eligible to vote.
State media reported thousands of people had already cast their votes by
mid-morning at Mugabe's Zvimba rural home area, where the president was also
expected to vote later in the day.
On the outskirts of the capital Harare's central business district, polling
officers reported a steady trickle of voters, with queues of up to 50 people
at any one time.
A few voters were turned away because of lack of identification.
In the second city Bulawayo and the southern border town of Masvingo voting
was progressing at a slow pace. In other areas rain appeared to keep people
at home.
Critics have cast doubt on the credibility of the referendum. The
authorities say they have yet to decide whether to allow independent
observers to witness the count.
The results are due on Monday. (Reuters)
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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