News / National
Mugabe, Tsvangirai square off in court over elections
03 Apr 2013 at 02:03hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will today square up in court as the MDC-T leader seeks to block the Zanu-PF leader's attempt to force a snap poll on or before June 29.
Judge President George Chiweshe is set to preside over the matter.
In court papers filed at the High Court on March 22, Mugabe pleaded to be excused from complying with a court order compelling him to proclaim dates for by-elections in three Matabeleland constituencies by the end of last month.
In his application, Mugabe said it would be economically unsound for him to proclaim dates for the by-elections now when he intended to announce dates for harmonised elections by May 8 this year.
However, Tsvangirai immediately filed an urgent application saying Mugabe's move was tantamount to calling for harmonised elections through the backdoor without consulting other coalition government partners.
"In terms of the Constitution, the life of Parliament terminates on June 29, 2013 by which date harmonised elections must be held in the country," Mugabe said in court papers filed on his behalf by Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa.
Tsvangirai argued that June elections would not be feasible as the country still needed to implement all agreed electoral reforms before they could agree on a suitable date for the polls.
The Premier approached the High Court last Thursday requesting to be included as the fourth respondent in the matter together with three former MDC MPs ' Abednico Bhebhe, Njabuliso Mguni and Norman Mpofu ' who initiated the push for the by-elections.
"In terms of the current constitutional dispensation, the applicant (Mugabe), in the main matter, has to consult me in my official capacity before he makes a proclamation relating to the dissolution of Parliament," Tsvangirai argued in a court application filed by his lawyer Chris Mhike.
"I verily believe that it is my duty to illuminate the impossibility of the applicant's proposed timelines, which timeline he bases his application."
MDC leader Welshman Ncube has also written to Sadc Troika chairperson Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete pleading for his intervention to block Mugabe from violating terms of the Global Political Agreement.
Ncube is demanding to be consulted before the election date is set.
According to Zimbabwe's constitution, the current parliamentary term ends on June 29 and elections should be held before or within 90 days after the dissolution of Parliament.
Judge President George Chiweshe is set to preside over the matter.
In court papers filed at the High Court on March 22, Mugabe pleaded to be excused from complying with a court order compelling him to proclaim dates for by-elections in three Matabeleland constituencies by the end of last month.
In his application, Mugabe said it would be economically unsound for him to proclaim dates for the by-elections now when he intended to announce dates for harmonised elections by May 8 this year.
However, Tsvangirai immediately filed an urgent application saying Mugabe's move was tantamount to calling for harmonised elections through the backdoor without consulting other coalition government partners.
"In terms of the Constitution, the life of Parliament terminates on June 29, 2013 by which date harmonised elections must be held in the country," Mugabe said in court papers filed on his behalf by Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa.
The Premier approached the High Court last Thursday requesting to be included as the fourth respondent in the matter together with three former MDC MPs ' Abednico Bhebhe, Njabuliso Mguni and Norman Mpofu ' who initiated the push for the by-elections.
"In terms of the current constitutional dispensation, the applicant (Mugabe), in the main matter, has to consult me in my official capacity before he makes a proclamation relating to the dissolution of Parliament," Tsvangirai argued in a court application filed by his lawyer Chris Mhike.
"I verily believe that it is my duty to illuminate the impossibility of the applicant's proposed timelines, which timeline he bases his application."
MDC leader Welshman Ncube has also written to Sadc Troika chairperson Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete pleading for his intervention to block Mugabe from violating terms of the Global Political Agreement.
Ncube is demanding to be consulted before the election date is set.
According to Zimbabwe's constitution, the current parliamentary term ends on June 29 and elections should be held before or within 90 days after the dissolution of Parliament.
Source - newsday
