PRIME MINISTER Morgan Tsvangirai has proposed September 16 as the ideal date on which Zimbabwe could hold harmonised elections.
Report by Moases Matenga
In his affidavit filed at the High Court in Harare last week in a case he was challenging President Robert Mugabe on election dates, Tsvangirai said after all processes, elections were ideal in September and not June as Mugabe was “trying to sneak in” through the courts.
Tsvangirai, in the affidavit filed on his behalf by Minister of State Jameson Timba, said calling for elections on June 29 was not practical and “in the present circumstances illegal”.
“As far as fourth respondent (Tsvangirai) knows, it is inconceivable for a variety of reasons, that the cpplicant will be able to call for harmonised elections on or before June 29, 2013,” Timba said in the affidavit.
“Applicant makes the assumption that the elections will be held by June 29, but does not tell the court what must happen should he be granted the relief sought in his application, but he and the institutions responsible for the conduct of elections fail to conduct the subject poll by that date.”
Tsvangirai’s projected timelines were that after the gazetting of the constitution Bill on March 28, the Bill would be introduced in Parliament in May, debate ends on May 16. Other processes would follow until elections on September 16.
“Contrary to applicant’s projections, fourth respondent’s projected timelines that are drawn up in consideration of relevant legal provisions and attendant contemplations, illustrate the impossibility of Applicant’s trajectory.
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“To make this point clearer, fourth respondent’s projection is as follows: ‘March 28, gazetting, May 2013, introduction and debate at Parliament, May 17, publication of resultant Bill in the Government Gazette and enactment, May 18 to June, intensive voter registration (30 days), June to July voter inspection and production of final voters’ roll (30 days), 19 July proclamation of harmonised elections, August 5 nomination court day (14 days from proclamation day in terms of the Electoral Act, September 16, polling day (30 days from sitting of nomination court in terms of the Electoral Act,” Timba said.
Tsvangirai said that various laws must be aligned with the new constitution and all reforms should be met.
Tsvangirai’s lawyers wrote to deputy Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya on Wednesday seeking a formal or written confirmation that “your client (Mugabe) will not pursue the argument that harmonised elections will/should be held by June 29.”
In response, the AG’s Office denied having changed their position on the matter saying: “We advise that we did not change our position in court. All we indicated to the court was that it was no longer necessary for us to pursue the interim relief on our papers as the issue had become unnecessary as the parties were going to fully argue the matter.”
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai is on a tour of Chicago, United States and Britain reportedly wooing potential investors to Zimbabwe.
He is being accompanied by Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, among other party officials.
