Lewanika said during Wednesday's observer briefing, ZEC commissioner Geoff Feltoe stressed that other civil society organizations that had been turned down would now be allowed to observe, but not ZimRights.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) commissioner Geoff Feltoe told the Daily News that the body is introducing a new voting system for armed forces to But Feltoe said yesterday they were moving to make the changes despite the fierce remonstrations. "The Act is now the law of the country and if we are going to have an election, we Soldiers to vote freely shall have to follow it," he said. Feltoe said soldiers will be voting freely starting with the constitutional referendum. "Disciplined force personnel and election officers on duty during elections will vote at special voting stations in each district in advance of the ordinary poll," Feltoe said. a special basis," said Feltoe. Feltoe declined to comment on the residual resistance by Chihuri. Feltoe said Zec, as soon as practicable after the election is called, must fix two special voting days for soldiers and police. Feltoe said ballots will be transported to the chief elections officer and "The election process takes place within the law," Feltoe clarified. The Zec team consists of commissioners Feltoe, Theophilus Gambe, Bessie

In attendance was Sanjeewa Liyanage, the IBJ Program Director, Professor Geoff Feltoe, five private practicing lawyers and representatives from the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Legal Resources Foundation, and Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender (ZACRO).

commissioner and prominent law lecturer and researcher Geoff Feltoe. Feltoe said the new law is an attempt to allay fears of electoral fraud. "We are trying to improve the electoral process and we have in the Act a law that will ensure that we have free and fair elections. This law will make sure that the electoral process runs smooth," said Feltoe. Feltoe, who is also a law professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said Without giving references, Feltoe said there was need to realign some laws

Spearheaded by IBJ lead trainer Anthony Natale (a practicing trial lawyer from the Miami Federal Office), and assisted by Karen Tse (IBJ Founder and CEO), Innocent Maja (IBJ Zimbabwe Senior Fellow and Country Manager), Professor Geoff Feltoe (University of Zimbabwe Law Professor), and Alec Muchadehama (a leading human rights lawyer in Zimbabwe), local lawyers engaged in exercises aimed at enhancing their knowledge of the practical skills involved in criminal defense, as well as their knowledge of the Zimbabwe's criminal procedures. Anthony trained in tandem with Karen Tse (IBJ Founder and CEO), Innocent Maja (IBJ Zimbabwe Senior Fellow and Country Manager), Professor Geoff Feltoe (University of Zimbabwe Law Professor) and Alec Muchadehama (a leading human rights lawyer in Zimbabwe). At the end of the seminar, participants were given complimentary copies of the current Criminal Defender Handbook and the Community Service Guidelines, both written by Professor Feltoe and commissioned by IBJ in conjunction with Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) and International Bar Association (IBA). Above: From left to right: Professor Geoffrey Feltoe and IBJ Zimbabwe Fellow, Innocent Maja, moderating the first roundtable on prison overcrowing in early July 2009. (Photo by Florence Chatira).