Church commission urges Zimbabwe to postpone March elections

Published: 2008-02-11

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- Zimbabwe's Catholic justice and peace commission has called for the postponement of March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections. The commission said it noted impediments to free and fair elections "with grave concern." "The voter registration process and requirements are cumbersome, thereby limiting full participation of all citizens" and "in some areas voter registration was not adequately done," the commission said in a Feb. 9 statement from the capital, Harare. "There has been inadequate preparation and voter education on the electoral process," it said, noting that "confusion continues" because presidential and parliamentary elections will be held together for the first time. Millions of Zimbabweans who have fled to neighboring countries and overseas to escape their country's economic meltdown should be allowed to vote because they still contribute significantly to Zimbabwe, the commission said.

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