Chinamasa blocks Zanu-PF's June 29 elections bid

Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa on Wednesday reportedly blocked Zanu-PF's bid to push for the June 29 polls, arguing that there was still need to negotiate with MDC parties to realign old laws with the new constitution to ensure electoral laws amendments would sail through Parliament.

He reportedly told the Zanu-PF Politburo meeting in Harare that if President Mugabe were to unilaterally announce election dates, the MDCs may stall the process.

Well-placed Zanu-PF sources confirmed yesterday that Chinamasa had poured cold water on the party's proposed poll deadline during the politburo meeting held soon after Mugabe had assented to the new constitution.