Zimbabwe’s Opposition Parties Unite to Demand Electoral Change

(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwean opposition groups plan to hold a joint protest rally Friday to demand changes in the electoral system to guarantee that general elections scheduled for 2018 are free and fair.

Sponsors of the demonstration in the capital, Harare, include Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who leads the Zimbabwe People First party, and opposition figures Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, according to Tsvangirai and a spokesman for Mujuru’s party.

The opponents of President Robert Mugabe are demanding changes including that they have access to the voters’ roll and that the electoral commission become an independent body and no longer be under the authority of the Justice Ministry.

“We need confidence in the electoral system,” Tsvangirai said by phone from Harare late Monday. “Right now that doesn’t exist.”