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No money for by-elections says Biti
28 Aug 2012 at 06:19hrs | Views
Finance minister Tendai Biti yesterday said the inclusive government had no money for elections as the August 30 Supreme Court deadline for President Mugabe to call for by-elections in 3 vacant constituencies beckoned.
Biti said government had only budgeted for the referendum for the new constitution set for October.
The Supreme Court ordered President Robert Mugabe to call by-elections by the end of August.
The case was taken to court by three opposition MPs, Njabuliso Mguni, Abedinico Bhebhe and Norman Mpofu, who lost their seats in 2009 when they were expelled from the Movement for Democratic Change led by Professor Welshman Ncube and had been fighting in the courts to force government to call for the by-elections..
The High Court ordered by-elections to be held but Mugabe appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing the government had no money to conduct the polls.
However, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court dismissed Mugabe's appeal and ordered "new elections to fill the vacancies as soon as possible, but no later than August 30, 2012".
It gave no reason for the decision and did not say whether elections should be held only for the three expelled or for another 30 seats vacant in the upper and lower houses of parliament because of the deaths of sitting members.
The MDC holds 96 seats in the 210-seat lower house of parliament, 10 short of a simple majority, against Zanu-PF's 91. The original three constituencies are all in Tsvangirai strongholds.
A parliamentary election is expected within 12 months. Tensions are running high between Zanu-PF and the MDC, part of a power-sharing coalition government cobbled together after a 2008 vote marred by violence blamed on Zanu-PF.
The two parties are also quarrelling over a new constitution now in its third year of drafting.
Mugabe is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders and has been accused of hanging on to power through vote-rigging. The 88-year-old has denied reports of ill-health and says he is fit enough to contest the next presidential election.
Biti said government had only budgeted for the referendum for the new constitution set for October.
The Supreme Court ordered President Robert Mugabe to call by-elections by the end of August.
The case was taken to court by three opposition MPs, Njabuliso Mguni, Abedinico Bhebhe and Norman Mpofu, who lost their seats in 2009 when they were expelled from the Movement for Democratic Change led by Professor Welshman Ncube and had been fighting in the courts to force government to call for the by-elections..
The High Court ordered by-elections to be held but Mugabe appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing the government had no money to conduct the polls.
It gave no reason for the decision and did not say whether elections should be held only for the three expelled or for another 30 seats vacant in the upper and lower houses of parliament because of the deaths of sitting members.
The MDC holds 96 seats in the 210-seat lower house of parliament, 10 short of a simple majority, against Zanu-PF's 91. The original three constituencies are all in Tsvangirai strongholds.
A parliamentary election is expected within 12 months. Tensions are running high between Zanu-PF and the MDC, part of a power-sharing coalition government cobbled together after a 2008 vote marred by violence blamed on Zanu-PF.
The two parties are also quarrelling over a new constitution now in its third year of drafting.
Mugabe is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders and has been accused of hanging on to power through vote-rigging. The 88-year-old has denied reports of ill-health and says he is fit enough to contest the next presidential election.
Source - Byo24News
