News / National
Welshman Ncube blasts Zanu-PF over election dates
15 Apr 2013 at 05:13hrs | Views
MDC leader Welshman Ncube on Friday attacked his counterparts in the Government of National Unity (GNU), particularly Zanu-PF, for being inconsistent on the date for harmonised elections, saying the discord will destroy public trust in the coalition government.
Speaking at the party's offices in Bulawayo during a meeting to welcome over 200 members who reportedly defected from MDC-T Makokoba-Mzilikazi district, Ncube said leaders in the GNU needed to be reliable.
"When you are a leader you must think before you open your mouth," Ncube said.
"Some (Zanu-PF officials) have been uttering inconsistent statements over the holding of elections. They, at some point, said elections would be in March this year. Now they say the elections will be in June, but we have been clear that the elections should be held in September this year and that will happen. Leaders must be trustworthy in what they say."
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was in February quoted as saying his party was ready for elections which were to be held in March this year.
"The life of Parliament expires in March 2013, so we can't continue to extend the life of Parliament. We believe that, come March 2013, we go for elections," Gumbo said.
Early last month President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba said delaying polls beyond the end of June would be an act of "constitutional indiscipline".
Zanu-PF's chief negotiator in the Global Political Agreement, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, while in Rome accompanying the President, said harmonised elections would be due by June 29 this year as the life of the current Parliament could not be extended beyond that date.
In October last year, Ncube said Zimbabwe's next elections would be held in September 2013. Ncube said legally, without any amendments to the Constitution, the next elections should be held 90 days from June 29 this year.
"The Constitution says that the life of Parliament starts to run from that date when the President was sworn in. Therefore, this Parliament is for five years which started in June 29 2008 to June 29 2013," Ncube said.
"The Constitution goes further to say, if Parliament is not dissolved sooner than 29 June, it shall automatically stand dissolved on 29 June 2013. It goes further, in black and white, to say an election must then be held no later than 90 days from the date of dissolution of Parliament."
Ncube said an election should then be held no later than 90 days from June 29.
"If you calculate the 90 days from June 29, it takes you up to September 27. It is, therefore, clear that an election must be held no later than 27 September," the MDC leader said.
He said the Constitution allowed for the President and MPs to remain in office until a new President was sworn in.
Speaking at the party's offices in Bulawayo during a meeting to welcome over 200 members who reportedly defected from MDC-T Makokoba-Mzilikazi district, Ncube said leaders in the GNU needed to be reliable.
"When you are a leader you must think before you open your mouth," Ncube said.
"Some (Zanu-PF officials) have been uttering inconsistent statements over the holding of elections. They, at some point, said elections would be in March this year. Now they say the elections will be in June, but we have been clear that the elections should be held in September this year and that will happen. Leaders must be trustworthy in what they say."
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was in February quoted as saying his party was ready for elections which were to be held in March this year.
"The life of Parliament expires in March 2013, so we can't continue to extend the life of Parliament. We believe that, come March 2013, we go for elections," Gumbo said.
Early last month President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba said delaying polls beyond the end of June would be an act of "constitutional indiscipline".
Zanu-PF's chief negotiator in the Global Political Agreement, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, while in Rome accompanying the President, said harmonised elections would be due by June 29 this year as the life of the current Parliament could not be extended beyond that date.
In October last year, Ncube said Zimbabwe's next elections would be held in September 2013. Ncube said legally, without any amendments to the Constitution, the next elections should be held 90 days from June 29 this year.
"The Constitution says that the life of Parliament starts to run from that date when the President was sworn in. Therefore, this Parliament is for five years which started in June 29 2008 to June 29 2013," Ncube said.
"The Constitution goes further to say, if Parliament is not dissolved sooner than 29 June, it shall automatically stand dissolved on 29 June 2013. It goes further, in black and white, to say an election must then be held no later than 90 days from the date of dissolution of Parliament."
Ncube said an election should then be held no later than 90 days from June 29.
"If you calculate the 90 days from June 29, it takes you up to September 27. It is, therefore, clear that an election must be held no later than 27 September," the MDC leader said.
He said the Constitution allowed for the President and MPs to remain in office until a new President was sworn in.
Source - newsday
