Negotiating the Minefield to Zimbabwe's Next Elections
The consensus emerged in Johannesburg that new elections should not be held without a national commitment to end political violence
Negotiating the Minefield to Zimbabwe's Next Elections <object id="slideshowXML" width="480" height="360" data="http://media.voanews.com/designvideo/slideshowXML.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </object> Negotiating the Minefield to Zimbabwe's Next Elections <object id="single1" width="295" height="24" data="http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/player/jw/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </object> To promote constructive discussion of the electoral challenges, hazards and opportunities facing Zimbabwe over the next year to 18 months, VOA Studio 7 held a town hall meeting or indaba at the Bassline Jazz Club in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Saturday, May 14. Helping frame the issues were panelists Dorcas Hove, a consultant on womens and media issues, Methodist Bishop Paul Verryn, whose Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg has given shelter to so many refugess from Zimbabwe, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Coordinator Dewa Mavhinga, and ZimOnline editor Abel Mutskani. Numerous members of the audience, which numbered close to 200, offered their thoughts on the constitutional referendum likely to be held later this year, and the elections which ZANU-PF demands be held in 2011 but all things considered - including the position adopted by the Southern African Development Community - seem more likely to be held in 2012. VOA Zimbabwe Service Senior Editor for Shona Raymond Choto welcomed the audience and LiveTalk co-host Blessing Zulu moderated the discussion with the assistance of Studio 7 correspondent Benedict Nhlapho, who reports from South Africa. One clear consensus emerged: whether or not a new constitution is put in place on the official timetable, new elections should not be held until Zimbabweans have collectively made a commitment to eliminate political violence from national life. To promote constructive discussion of the electoral challenges, hazards and opportunities facing Zimbabwe over the next year to 18 months, VOA Studio 7 held a town hall meeting or indaba at the Bassline Jazz Club in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Saturday, May 14. Helping frame the issues were panelists Dorcas Hove, a consultant on womens and media issues, Methodist Bishop Paul Verryn, whose Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg has given shelter to so many refugess from Zimbabwe, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Coordinator Dewa Mavhinga, and ZimOnline editor Abel Mutskani. Numerous members of the audience, which numbered close to 200, offered their thoughts on the constitutional referendum likely to be held later this year, and the elections which ZANU-PF demands be held in 2011 but all things considered - including the position adopted by the Southern African Development Community - seem more likely to be held in 2012. VOA Zimbabwe Service Senior Editor for Shona Raymond Choto welcomed the audience and LiveTalk co-host Blessing Zulu moderated the discussion with the assistance of Studio 7 correspondent Benedict Nhlapho, who reports from South Africa. One clear consensus emerged: whether or not a new constitution is put in place on the official timetable, new elections should not be held until Zimbabweans have collectively made a commitment to eliminate political violence from national life.