PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday agreed that the date for the next election should be negotiated, according to the MDC-T.
Report by Everson Mushava
Principals in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) resolved that Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa should work with Constitutional Affairs minister Eric Matinenga to come up with timelines to guide them (Principals) in deciding the election date.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka told NewsDay after the Principals’ Monday meeting that the MDC-T leader told Mugabe that elections by June 29 would not be feasible.
“Minister Chinamasa should work with Minister Matinenga in drawing a roadmap to elections,” Tamborinyoka said.
“Elections by June 29 are unworkable considering what needs to be done. The ministers will prepare timelines taking into account the legal requirements and the political reforms that need to be implemented before the Principals come up with the date for elections.”
Chinamasa last week said elections would be held by June 29, a point that was buttressed by Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba at the weekend.
But Tamborinyoka said: “It is not for one party to decide on the date of the next elections. All parties in the inclusive government should be involved.”
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Tamborinyoka said Tsvangirai also raised concern over the police clampdown on civic society organisations and MDC-T supporters and Mugabe promised to meet Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to look into the issue.
“The conduct of the police dents the image of the country and affects the credibility of the next elections. The behaviour of the police is not inspiring any confidence at all,” Tamborinyoka said.
He said it was also agreed during the meeting that the Joint Monitoring Committee must be allowed to fulfil its mandate and ensure that all agreed GPA issues are implemented. The principals also agreed that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commisson be allowed to do its work without interference.
