Zimbabwe parliament authorizes a $20,000 ballot fee. Despite the opposition’s request to lower the fees before next week’s registration deadline, Zimbabwean lawmakers defended plans to charge presidential candidates $20,000 and parliamentarians $1,000.
The U.S. dollar costs are 20-fold more than in 2018.
ZANU-PF legislators said the policy would ensure strong candidates compete for office during a Wednesday debate. After the Constitutional Court ordered parliament to discuss the bill last week, they passed it.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) opposed the bill and sought to lower prices before the Jun. 21 registration deadline.
Zimbabwe will hold presidential and legislative elections on Aug. 23 amid severe economic catastrophe.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will seek reelection after a coup toppled Robert Mugabe in 2018. The 45-year-old CCC leader Nelson Chamisa is the 80-year-old’s, principal opponent.
