Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has taken charge of preparations for next year’s elections and will constantly update principals in the inclusive government, he confirmed yesterday.
Report By Everson Mushava Chief Reporter
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson William Bango made the confirmation when he was asked by NewsDay about the purpose of the MDC-T leader’s meeting with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) last Friday.
Bango said his boss had assumed the role in his capacity as the person in charge of the government’s policy implementation.
“The PM is literally in charge of the process. He is the point man to the final conclusion of the Zimbabwe crisis,” he said.
“There is nothing untoward about the PM taking over this responsibility.
“He has the full mandate of the nation to assist in the guiding of the process. In the first place, elections are not run by individual political parties on behalf of government, but by executives.
“Normally, elections are a national process run by the Executive.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“In his capacity as the Prime Minister of the country, he is to assist in that kind of process to the conclusive stage.”
He said the meeting with Zec, where it was agreed that a voter education blitz must be launched early next month, was part of Tsvangirai’s efforts to make sure the forthcoming polls were credible.
“By meeting all the players, national institutions responsible for the implementation of this process, the PM will compile a report and brief other principals on what is required for this process to make amicable and lasting finalisation,” Bango said.
“He will meet all players involved in the referendum and in the electoral process and advise his colleagues on the red buttons, potential landmines and the flaws that lie ahead.”
He said Tsvangirai did not need the permission of other principals in the inclusive government to carry out his mandate.
“It would be utterly irresponsible and reckless for him as PM to outsource these critical political and national responsibilities to a third party in a fair non-partisan and objective manner,”
Bango said.“He is the chief minister in this government and so all ministers report to him and he reports to President Robert Mugabe. That’s within his portfolio to run the preparation of elections.”
Recently, Tsvangirai was also appointed the official spokesperson of the inclusive government principals to avoid confusion over the outcome of their regular meetings. Mugabe has been threatening to unilaterally dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections, accusing his coalition government partners of dragging their feet in the constitution-making process.
But analysts say the veteran ruler’s push for elections in March next year is increasingly becoming futile because of delays in crucial reforms.
Last Friday, Zec also asked to be given 90 days’ notice before elections are organised to allow for adequate preparations.
