News / Local
This week's events point to early elections - Prof Moyo
14 Jul 2012 at 18:47hrs | Views
Tsholotsho MP and Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo says political events in the country this week point to the possibility of an early election that would end the coalition government currently running the country.
Addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Thursday evening, Moyo said there were at least four developments this week that pointed to the possibility of early polls.
Moyo, a former Information minister, said key events that include President Robert Mugabe losing a Supreme Court case in which he wanted by-elections not to be held in three constituencies, the possibility of lifting of sanctions by the West, two Bills to do with elections introduced in Parliament and the announcement by Copac that the draft constitution was now ready, were indications enough.
"This has been a big week for the Global Political Agreement (GPA) government," he said.
"Three things have either happened or are happening that would lead to the conclusion of the GPA, whose writing is on the wall.
"First, Justice minister (Patrick) Chinamasa moved in Parliament two previously unscheduled Bills, which were hanging there and could almost have died. He moved the Human Rights Commission and the Electoral Amendment Bills, negotiated by the government for two-and-a-half years."
On the draft constitution, Moyo said: "After a lot of confusion since April 2009, the management committee has announced that now there is a draft constitution."
Moyo said another development was the stance by the European Union (EU) around the lifting of sanctions.
"Its a significant thing because the lifting of sanctions is in the GPA. The EU intends to announce the suspension of sanctions on 23 July, 2012. The reason they are now contemplating lifting them is because they now have a legal case against them."
He said the last significant event was the move by the Supreme Court to uphold the High Court ruling that the President should announce dates of by-elections for three constituencies in Matabeleland.
Meanwhile, quizzed on why he rejoined Zanu PF without consulting the electorate which voted for him as an independent in 2008, Moyo said he did not make the decision alone.
He said the decision was influenced by elders in his constituency who felt by ditching the then ruling party, the numerous development projects he was spearheading in the area would crumble.
"What the people of Tsholotsho want is development. They dont want fake politics like who is an MP and who is not an MP. They knew I had brought the GMB (Grain Marketing Board) depot and all that development to Tsholotsho.
"They believed if I ran as an independent I would cost them all those things. I am not back in Zanu PF as a result of my effort alone, but as a result of the effort of my elders as well," he said.
Addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Thursday evening, Moyo said there were at least four developments this week that pointed to the possibility of early polls.
Moyo, a former Information minister, said key events that include President Robert Mugabe losing a Supreme Court case in which he wanted by-elections not to be held in three constituencies, the possibility of lifting of sanctions by the West, two Bills to do with elections introduced in Parliament and the announcement by Copac that the draft constitution was now ready, were indications enough.
"This has been a big week for the Global Political Agreement (GPA) government," he said.
"Three things have either happened or are happening that would lead to the conclusion of the GPA, whose writing is on the wall.
"First, Justice minister (Patrick) Chinamasa moved in Parliament two previously unscheduled Bills, which were hanging there and could almost have died. He moved the Human Rights Commission and the Electoral Amendment Bills, negotiated by the government for two-and-a-half years."
On the draft constitution, Moyo said: "After a lot of confusion since April 2009, the management committee has announced that now there is a draft constitution."
Moyo said another development was the stance by the European Union (EU) around the lifting of sanctions.
"Its a significant thing because the lifting of sanctions is in the GPA. The EU intends to announce the suspension of sanctions on 23 July, 2012. The reason they are now contemplating lifting them is because they now have a legal case against them."
He said the last significant event was the move by the Supreme Court to uphold the High Court ruling that the President should announce dates of by-elections for three constituencies in Matabeleland.
Meanwhile, quizzed on why he rejoined Zanu PF without consulting the electorate which voted for him as an independent in 2008, Moyo said he did not make the decision alone.
He said the decision was influenced by elders in his constituency who felt by ditching the then ruling party, the numerous development projects he was spearheading in the area would crumble.
"What the people of Tsholotsho want is development. They dont want fake politics like who is an MP and who is not an MP. They knew I had brought the GMB (Grain Marketing Board) depot and all that development to Tsholotsho.
"They believed if I ran as an independent I would cost them all those things. I am not back in Zanu PF as a result of my effort alone, but as a result of the effort of my elders as well," he said.
Source - newsday
