News / National
Mugabe seeks extension of by-elections deadline
29 Aug 2012 at 04:27hrs | Views
President Mugabe yesterday filed an urgent application in the High Court seeking an extension of the deadline to proclaim dates for by-elections in Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East.
This followed a Supreme Court order by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku giving the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces up to tomorrow to publish a notice ordering the by-elections to fill in the three vacancies.
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa told our Harare Bureau that he filed the application on behalf of President Mugabe yesterday.
"We have today (yesterday) filed an urgent application to ask for extension of time within which to comply with the court order.
"As you know, besides the three vacant seats, there are in total 28 vacant parliamentary seats and 164 vacant local authority seats.
"Conducting the by-elections in 28 parliamentary constituencies as well as in 164 local authorities is tantamount to a mini general election where huge financial resources are required. We have applied for an extension of one month to give us more time to comply.
"If granted, during this period we will be able to mobilise more financial resources."
Minister Chinamasa said the vacant seats were spread across the country, making the by-elections more costly.
"There is no province or administrative district which is spared from this by-election one way or the other, either at local or parliamentary level," he said.
"In Parliament, we have 16 House of Assembly seats, 10 Senatorial seats and two chiefs' seats (that are vacant). It will be just as expensive as holding general elections."
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told journalists in Harare yesterday that they discussed the issue at principals' level.
He also said there were more vacant seats besides the three.
"President Mugabe will be making an announcement soon. I do not think it will be about the three constituencies only," he said.
PM Tsvangirai said it would be more costly for the country to have by-elections now when it is expecting general elections in the next six or eight months.
The High Court ordered by-elections in constituencies which became vacant after three MDC legislators Abednico Bhebe (Nkayi South), Njabulo Mguni (Bulilima East) and Norman Mpofu (Lupane East) were expelled from MDC and were subsequently relieved of their parliamentary positions.
The three former legislators instituted the court action after declaring their interest in contesting for the constituencies as independent candidates.
High Court judge Justice Nicholas Ndou last October directed President Mugabe to ensure the by-elections for the three constituencies were held despite the financial challenges Government is facing.
The judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court on 12 July this year.
This followed a Supreme Court order by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku giving the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces up to tomorrow to publish a notice ordering the by-elections to fill in the three vacancies.
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa told our Harare Bureau that he filed the application on behalf of President Mugabe yesterday.
"We have today (yesterday) filed an urgent application to ask for extension of time within which to comply with the court order.
"As you know, besides the three vacant seats, there are in total 28 vacant parliamentary seats and 164 vacant local authority seats.
"Conducting the by-elections in 28 parliamentary constituencies as well as in 164 local authorities is tantamount to a mini general election where huge financial resources are required. We have applied for an extension of one month to give us more time to comply.
"If granted, during this period we will be able to mobilise more financial resources."
Minister Chinamasa said the vacant seats were spread across the country, making the by-elections more costly.
"There is no province or administrative district which is spared from this by-election one way or the other, either at local or parliamentary level," he said.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told journalists in Harare yesterday that they discussed the issue at principals' level.
He also said there were more vacant seats besides the three.
"President Mugabe will be making an announcement soon. I do not think it will be about the three constituencies only," he said.
PM Tsvangirai said it would be more costly for the country to have by-elections now when it is expecting general elections in the next six or eight months.
The High Court ordered by-elections in constituencies which became vacant after three MDC legislators Abednico Bhebe (Nkayi South), Njabulo Mguni (Bulilima East) and Norman Mpofu (Lupane East) were expelled from MDC and were subsequently relieved of their parliamentary positions.
The three former legislators instituted the court action after declaring their interest in contesting for the constituencies as independent candidates.
High Court judge Justice Nicholas Ndou last October directed President Mugabe to ensure the by-elections for the three constituencies were held despite the financial challenges Government is facing.
The judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court on 12 July this year.
Source - TC
