Back to Index

Mugabe to dissolve Parliament, announce election date
Patricia Mpofu, ZimOnline
January 11, 2008

http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=2542

President Robert Mugabe is expected to announce the dissolution of Parliament and proclaim the date for fresh elections when he returns from his annual leave later this month, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said.

Zimbabwe is set to hold key presidential and parliamentary elections in March although the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is pushing for the polls to be postponed.

"It is only the President who knows but I am sure things will be clearer when the President comes back from his annual leave when he will make disclosures," said Chinamasa, in response to queries by ZimOnline when exactly Parliament would be dissolved and polls held.

Mugabe, in power since 1980 and seeking re-election for another five-year term, told a December congress of his ruling ZANU PF party that elections would be held in March without fail.

The MDC, that is in talks with Mugabe's ruling ZANU PF party, wants elections moved to June to allow democratic reforms and other legal changes the two parties might agree at the South African brokered talks to have effect on the ground before voting can take place.

The MDC has hinted it could boycott the polls if they are held in March and before a new constitution agreed at the talks is implemented.

The talks between the MDC and ZANU PF that are said to have hit deadlock over the new constitution and the date for elections are backed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), eager for a lasting solution to Zimbabwe's crisis.

A key objective of the President Thabo Mbeki-facilitated talks is to ensure next March's polls are free and fair.

Analysts say truly democratic elections are vital to any plan to end an acute economic crisis gripping Zimbabwe and seen in hyperinflation, a rapidly contracting GDP, the fastest for a country not at war according to the World Bank and shortages of foreign currency, food and fuel.

Under the law, at least 45 days are required between the date of proclamation and the actual date voting takes place.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP