Referendum is an electoral risk, govt advised

Government has been advised to consider holding the referendum on the Bill of Rights alongside the possible re-run of the August 11^th presidential election.

Macdonald Chipenzi

Electoral expert Macdonald Chipenzi says crowding the general election with a national referendum poses an electoral risk.

Mr. Chipenzi points out that having five ballots papers already congests the general election.

In an interview, Mr. Chipenzi says it will therefore be prudent to hold the referendum alongside the possible re-run of the presidential election to enable voters only concentrate on two ballots.

Mr. Chipenzi states that in an event that there is no re-run presidential election, the money budgeted for re-run can then be used to hold the referendum.

He says government should realise that there is still need to build consensus on the contents of the Bill of Rights among other outstanding issues.