Monday, 18 March 2013

AU Court Orders Zim to Allow the Diaspora to Vote


The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has ordered the Zimbabwe government to make provisions to allow Zimbabweans abroad to vote in this weekend’s referendum. The decision came after lawyers acting for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights filed a case before the Commission on behalf of a number of exiled Zimbabweans. The Commission instructed the government to provide all eligible voters the same voting rights and facilities that are afforded to Zimbabweans working abroad who represent the government. 

However, it is unlikely that provisions will be in place for a postal vote this weekend, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has already stated that postal votes for people in government service will not be provided due to time constraints. Gabriel Shumba, an exiled human rights lawyer who led the application, said that the government might not honour the Commission’s rulings: “It would not be the first time”, he warned.


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