A court in Zimbabwe has ruled in favour of the opposition, ordering that voters be permitted to cast their ballots anywhere in the country and not just in their own constituencies as decreed by the government, the Daily Newssaid today.
The judgement comes six weeks ahead of watershed presidential elections, when President Robert Mugabe will face his toughest challenge in his 22 years in power from the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
The privately-owned Daily Newssaid High Court judge Rita Makarau gave the order to the Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede, yesterday following an application by Tsvangirai.
The MDC says the ruling will allow its supporters who have fled their homes to escape political violence to vote.
MDC spokesman Learnmore Jongwe said 60,000 MDC members, or perceived MDC sympathisers countrywide have been displaced by ZANU-PF supporters.
"This judgement is historic and we welcome it," Tsvangirai was quoted as saying.
"We trust that all political parties contesting this crucial election will naturally welcome the judgement as it seeks to grant full suffrage to all Zimbabweans to elect their president."
AFP