Zimbabwe is to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday 29 March, the government has announced. President Robert Mugabe has been confirmed as his ruling partys candidate, thereby trying to extend his 27 years in office, BBC online reports Friday.
The opposition MDC is threatening to boycott the elections unless it gets guarantees they will be free and fair at talks with Mr Mugabes party. Recent elections have been characterised by violence against the opposition and accusations of rigging – charges denied by Mr Mugabe.
The opposition wants constitutional changes to be enacted before the elections and MDC has expressed surprise at the announcement. – It is an act of madness and arrogance, Nelson Chamisa, spokesman from the MCD Tsvangirai faction, said.
Zimbabwe is suffering from an acute economic crisis, which Mr Mugabes critics blame on his seizure of white-owned farms. He says he is the victim of an international plot intended to bring him down.
Zimbabwe has the world’s highest rate of annual inflation – 8.000 per cent – while just one in five has an official job.
