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Elections
in Zimbabwe in 2008 were marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging
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Zimbabwe's
election chief has resigned citing ill health, state media reports.
Simpson
Mutambanengwe resignation comes as Zimbabwe gears up for a crucial
constitutional referendum and elections later this year.
Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had been pushing for key reforms to guarantee free
elections.
The poll
will herald the end of the shaky coalition he formed with President Robert
Mugabe after the 2008 election, which was marred by violence.
Mr
Tsvangirai - the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - boycotted
a run-off vote in 2008 after claiming he had been robbed of victory during the
first round.
Mr
Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe are expected to run against each other in the
election.
Mr Mugabe's
Zanu-PF party was also accused of unleashing violence against MDC supporters,
an allegation it denied.
Justice
Minister Chinamasa said that Mr Mugabe had accepted the resignation of Mr
Mutambanengwe, a retired judge who took the post after the controversial 2008
poll, the state-owned Herald newspaper reports.
"The
resignation is on the grounds of health," Mr Chinamasa is quoted as saying
His
replacement would be chosen after discussions involving the coalition partners,
Mr Chinamasa added.
Last month,
New York-based campaign group Human Rights Watch called for reforms to the
electoral body, judiciary and media, alleging they were loyal to Zanu-PF.
Following
talks later in the month, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai said they had reached a
deal over a new constitution, removing a key obstacle to elections.
They said
the constitution would be put to a referendum.
Once
approved by voters, elections are to be held.
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