Post date: Jan 02, 2013 4:31:7 PM
Zimbabwe-Election Funding -- Zimbabwe's election faces financial difficulties, analyst
China Central Television (CCTV) - As Zimbabwe heads into 2013, the country's readiness for the elections due in March continues to dominate discussion.
The national electoral commission says it needs some 200 million U.S. dollars to run the elections and a concurrent referendum, a figure that wasn't factored into the 2013 national budget. According to Zimbabwe's finance minister, to hold the elections, the country will need to mobilize resources from the international community.Zimbabwe is due to hold a referendum on a new constitution early in 2013, which will pave the way for parliamentary and presidential elections later. When exactly those elections will take place has been the subject of intense speculation. With electoral officials now saying they are cash-strapped, Zimbabweans are even more uncertain about when they can go to the polls.
"It's not a question of whether there is money or not but it's a question of whether the country is actually ready for an election. If you look at the pertaining political processes, particularly the issue of the constitution, I think to say an election will be possible in the first half of the year would be stretching the truth," said Charles Mangongera, a political analyst.
President Mugabe has been pushing for elections as early as March 2013. But theMovement for Democratic Change political party says a number of reforms need to be implemented to ensure a credible voting process. Analysts argue that the international community would be open to help finance the polls if such reforms were in place.
A proposed plan by parties opposed to President Mugabe to form a coalition in the next election also looks to be stalled. In the country's last election, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai garnered 48 percent of the vote, failing to achieve an outright majority. Observers believe the united front could sway more votes to the opposition, but personal differences seem to be scuttling the plan.
"Personal egos are very difficult to get rid of. If it was a question of ideological differences then it would be possible to bring them together because you negotiate and agree on certain principles. But if it's a question of personalities and things like that, it becomes very difficult to bring them together," explained Charles Mangongera.
The 2013 polls are likely to see four major presidential candidates running for the highest office, but the real race will contest between President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai. Yet whether the country can find the funding needed for the election is anybody's guess.
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