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Zimbabwe Opposition Party to Field Candidates in March Elections
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Movement for Democratic Change threaten to boycott poll if conditions
are not in place to ensure free and fair ballot Zimbabwe's main
opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), says it
will take part in parliamentary elections scheduled for March 31.

Party spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi made the announcement Thursday.

The party had threatened to boycott the poll if conditions are not in
place to ensure a free and fair ballot.

Mr. Nyathi said the opposition continues to have concerns about the
election system in the country.

The opposition and western governments, including Britain and the
United States, say Zimbabwe's last two elections in 2000 and 2002 were
seriously marred by irregularities.

Earlier this year, President Robert Mugabe passed legislation to
reform the nation's electoral system, but the opposition has said the
new provisions do not go far enough.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP, Reuters.


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