By Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe- Zimbabwe’s coalition government announced this week that elections would be postponed until at least October since there would first need to be a referendum on a new constitution.  The coalition government, led by Zimbabwe’s long time president Robert Mugabe and the opposition leader from 2008, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been a tumultuous union and many fear that the next elections could end in violence.  President Mugabe, who first gained power thirty years ago, is pushing for a quick election that would end the coalition government even though his critics say he is stalling on the necessary media, security and electoral reforms that wound guarantee a free and fair voting process.

Many outside of Zimbabwe are pushing for the country to make these necessary changes.  The Friends of Zimbabwe group, comprised of the United States, the United Nations, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and other Western nations has expressed concerns that Zimbabwe is not focusing on the “protection of fundamental rights, the rule of law, governance and respect for agreements.”  Botswana’s Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology, Jeff Ramsay, made a statement that Botswana would respect the decisions of Zimbabwe in their own affairs but that such decisions need to be made in an open and fair climate.  Said Ramsay, “[The Southern African Development Community (SADC)] must insist on such a process for the delivery of credible elections in that country and must put in place [. . .] a monitoring mechanism to guarantee such an outcome.”

Those in the coalition government believe Zimbabwe is far from holding an election despite Mugabe’s urging for a quick election.  Douglas Mwonzora, joint-chairman of Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary Select Committee said this week that the process has been slowed by a lack of funds and political infighting, adding that the referendum adopting a new constitution could take the process well into September of 2011.  Given the violence that left 200 Zimbabweans dead after the 2008 elections, partners in the coalition government are asking for a SADC election road-map that would ensure safe elections.  The international community, along with Zimbabwe’s citizens, fear President Mugabe and the coalition government will not be able to reach timely agreements on any electoral processes.  The Friends of Zimbabwe stated on Wednesday, “[T]he Zimbabwean government needs to create [an] enabling environment, and agree on and implement significant reforms. Zimbabweans should not face violence and intimidation to cast their votes.”

For more information, please see;

Reuters- Western Countries Press Zimbabwe on Vote Reforms– 23 Dec., 2010

The Zimbabwe Mail- SADC Must Insist on Credible Zimbabwe Elections– 22 Dec., 2010

CNN- Zimbabwe Elections Likely to Be Delayed– 23 Dec., 2010