VOA常速英语2007年-Zimbabwe Inter-Party Negotiations Reportedly Ma

By Peta Thornycroft
15 November 2007

After many delays negotiations² in Harare between the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition³ Movement for Democratic Change have reached a critical point and the parties have reportedly agreed to new laws governing elections due next year. Peta Thornycroft reports for VOA.

President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the two factions⁴ of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change are considering a set of new election laws likely to be presented to parliament in the next few weeks.

Southern African diplomatic sources say the measures were agreed in South Africa-facilitated talks between the parties which have been under way since March.

Revising the electoral laws is seen as essential by government critics because last-minute changes introduced by Mr. Mugabe in the 2002 presidential election prevented thousands of people from voting. The changes included dramatic reductions in the number of polling stations in urban areas, considered opposition strongholds. The remaining polling centers were unable to cope with the number of voters.

Other amendments⁵ to laws governing the pre-election period reportedly are already at the government printer. These include reforms to allow all contesting political parties greater access to state media.

Sources say the new legislation, the first item on the negotiating agenda, could be presented to parliament within weeks, providing negotiations do not break down. A new interim⁶ constitution is also being considered.

The next three items on the negotiation¹ agenda include reforms to legislation governing media, security and property laws.

The fifth item on the agenda is called political climate.

During elections since 2000 opposition supporters have been killed, kidnapped, beaten and arrested when they campaigned in traditional ZANU-PF strongholds in rural areas.

Observers say South Africa will have to play a decisive role to improve the political climate and ensure Zimbabweans experience freedom of political choice.

However, the simultaneous presidential, parliamentary and senate elections must be announced next month, ninety days ahead of polling day which is currently scheduled for March. President Mugabe's term also expires in March.

Observers say this leaves very little time to legislate⁷ and implement⁸ every thing agreed at the talks. They warn that South African mediators will likely have to persuade ZANU-PF to delay elections beyond March, so that the effects of new electoral freedoms can take hold.

Political observers say the final agreements reached by the parties are likely to include several major compromises which may not be acceptable to their supporters in both parties. This could also cause delays as party leaders lobby for support for the deals among the rank and file. But they say the negotiations present an opportunity for a new beginning.

African diplomats⁹ from the region who asked not to be named but are closely following the talks say they are encouraged by the progress aimed at ending Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis.

President Mugabe, 83 years old and in power for nearly 28 years, is expected to be endorsed¹⁰ as the ZANU-PF presidential candidate during a party congress next month.

1 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

5 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

6 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

7 legislate   

vt.制定法律；n.法规，律例；立法

参考例句：

• Therefore,it is very urgent to legislate for the right of privacy.因此，为隐私权立法刻不容缓。
• It's impossible to legislate for every contingency.为每一偶发事件都立法是不可能的。

8 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

9 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》