VOA常速英语2008年-Zimbabweans in South Africa Receive Free Ride H

By Benedict Nhlapo
Johannesburg, South Africa
25 March 2008

A South Africa-based NGO is organizing free transport for Zimbabweans who're eager to return to their homeland to vote in Saturday's presidential elections. The Peace Democracy Project also set up 10 voter education stations last month. From Johannesburg, Benedict Nhlapo has the story.

The Peace Democracy Project (or PDP) says it has received election-related enquiries from more than 10-thousand Zimbabweans. PDP coordinator¹ Bekithemba Jama says they've decided² to organise³ free transport after it received requests from more than 500 eligible⁴ voters…

"The main objective," he said, "is to enable any Zimbabwean who is [a registered voter with travel documents] in South Africa  but is unable to go to Zimbabwe because of various constraints⁵, but is willing to go and vote. [We want] to make sure that he (or she) goes to Zimbabwe and is able to cast their ballot⁶ on March 29th regardless of his or her political affiliation⁷."He says the free transport program hasn't been without its fare share of difficulties.

 

"The challenges that we are facing," he says, " is that most of these people do not have travel documents. Either [they have] asylum applications [or no] documents at all, so it becomes difficult for us to transport such people."

 

He says, "We have told our volunteers that they have to take all the details of all the people who [ask]. They have to write their phone numbers, their ID numbers and the constituencies where they come from. From there were take that data to the office we verify, we check from the voter's role that they are registered.  If they are registered then we will arrange for the buses ...to take them home... to vote."

Sithembiso Mdlongwa is one of the project's volunteers stationed at Joubert Park in central Johannesburg.

He says travel arrangements will only be revealed to those who have registered for security reasons.

She adds individuals will be transported to and then dropped off in major cities or towns close to their constituencies, and then picked up at the same spot for the return journey.

 

Many Zimbabweans in SA, who're still upset with the Harare government for denying them a diaspora vote, have applauded the free transport initiative.

The PDP’s 10 voter education stations are manned by 25 volunteers, and will remain open until the 29^th. PDP logistics officer Gilbert Moyo says they expect all those with the necessary documents will be assisted. He says they have a system in place to check people's credentials….

1 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

7 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。