Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe addresses to his supporters in Harare. Mugabe was chosen by his ruling ZANU-PF party on Friday to stand again as its candidate in presidential elections next year, a party spokesman said.(AFP Photo)

    HARARE, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Central Committee of the ruling ZANU-PF party on Friday voted to harmonize presidential, parliamentary and local government elections and choose President Robert Mugabe as the party's candidate for the presidential race, the official New Ziana reported.

    It also voted to hold the joint elections next year instead of 2010 which had earlier been proposed, the news agency said.

    Speaking to journalists after the Central Committee meeting, the ruling party's Spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said the harmonization of the elections was, however, not complete as parliament had to debate the changes and make necessary amendments to the constitution.

    Presidential elections were due next year, and parliamentary ones in 2010. Because of the enormous costs involved in running elections, the polls have been harmonized, said the report.

    "While the decision (to harmonize the elections) was taken, it's not complete yet because some of the issues have to be taken to cabinet and parliament," Shamuyarira said.

    The Central Committee also voted to increase the number of parliamentary seats in the lower chamber from 150 to 210 and in the upper chamber from 66 to 84 with effect from next year.

    Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the harmonization of elections will also see the constitution being amended to reduce the presidential term from six to five years and local government elections being moved from every four years to five years.

    Local government elections will however not be held on the same day as the presidential and parliamentary elections but will precede them, he said. "Modalities for this are being worked out."

    Under the new system, Chinamasa said no elections would be held for senatorial seats but would be based on proportional representation.

    Commenting on the increase in parliamentary seats, he said: "We believe that the Zimbabwean population is under represented taking into account the current population and compared with other countries with relative populations."