News / National
'Legal experts' divided over June 29 election date
17 May 2013 at 06:42hrs | Views
The June 29 election date has attracted contrasting opinion from 'legal experts'.
Some legal experts have dismissed the possibility of a June 29 election saying several supporting mechanisms with fixed timelines have to be taken into account before an election date is proclaimed.
Research and Advocacy Unity researcher Derek Matyszak said a 30-day mandatory voter registration period is required from the day the new Constitution is published, while 56 days would be needed from the day the election date is proclaimed to the polling date.
He said another two week period was required for–the nomination court to approve candidates from the day of the proclamation of the dates for polls and an additional 42 days had to be allowed for nomination of candidates.
Some legal experts say the President, who requires a maximum of four months to proclaim an election date before the expiry of parliament on June 29, still has 44 days to do so.
The Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma said it is the full responsibility of the President to ensure that the provisions of the constitution are upheld and respected, making sure that elections are held at the expiry of parliament's lifespan.
Constitutional expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said democracy requires that the supreme law of the land should be respected in accordance with the oath of allegiance taken by government officials when they are sworn-in.
Madhuku insisted that after June 2013, parties in the inclusive government should know that union ceases to exist and allow other parties outside the GPA to participate in nation building by going through elections.
The two experts scoffed at suggestions by some that people need more time to inspect the voters' roll and for registration saying registration is an on-going exercise and that the same people who voted in the referendum are the same ones that will cast ballots in the general elections.
The experts said there is no option for delaying the elections as they were initially pencilled for 2011 according to the GPA which gave birth to the inclusive government.
The past few years have seen concerted efforts by some political parties in the inclusive government to halt the tide of elections through various delays.
Some legal experts have dismissed the possibility of a June 29 election saying several supporting mechanisms with fixed timelines have to be taken into account before an election date is proclaimed.
Research and Advocacy Unity researcher Derek Matyszak said a 30-day mandatory voter registration period is required from the day the new Constitution is published, while 56 days would be needed from the day the election date is proclaimed to the polling date.
He said another two week period was required for–the nomination court to approve candidates from the day of the proclamation of the dates for polls and an additional 42 days had to be allowed for nomination of candidates.
Some legal experts say the President, who requires a maximum of four months to proclaim an election date before the expiry of parliament on June 29, still has 44 days to do so.
The Clerk of Parliament, Mr Austin Zvoma said it is the full responsibility of the President to ensure that the provisions of the constitution are upheld and respected, making sure that elections are held at the expiry of parliament's lifespan.
Constitutional expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said democracy requires that the supreme law of the land should be respected in accordance with the oath of allegiance taken by government officials when they are sworn-in.
Madhuku insisted that after June 2013, parties in the inclusive government should know that union ceases to exist and allow other parties outside the GPA to participate in nation building by going through elections.
The two experts scoffed at suggestions by some that people need more time to inspect the voters' roll and for registration saying registration is an on-going exercise and that the same people who voted in the referendum are the same ones that will cast ballots in the general elections.
The experts said there is no option for delaying the elections as they were initially pencilled for 2011 according to the GPA which gave birth to the inclusive government.
The past few years have seen concerted efforts by some political parties in the inclusive government to halt the tide of elections through various delays.
Source - Byo24News
