News / National
Mutambara endorses, Ncube in full election mode, Tsvangirai cries foul
14 Jun 2013 at 03:23hrs | Views
THE proclamation of election dates by President Mugabe yesterday drew contrasting reactions from other principals in the inclusive Government as Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara gave it the thumbs up, while Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai sang the familiar boycott tune.
Mr Tsvangirai convened a Press conference at his party's headquarters on being notified of the election date by President Mugabe and claimed Sadc was forcing him to contest the polls that he wants held on August 25.
While Mr Tsvangirai was damning the elections date, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara - who is also a GPA principal - endorsed the date saying Mr Tsvangirai's antics were out of sync with reality.
"If the reforms Tsvangirai wants were not done in four-and-a-half years, (of the inclusive Government) what will allow them to be done in three months?" he asked.
Prof Mutambara said there was nothing Sadc could do to reverse the election date because it is constitutional.
"The most they can do is to encourage us to work together or nudge us to work together, they cannot challenge Zimbabwean courts," he said.
"We also should not pin too much hope on a foreign body."
Professor Welshman Ncube's MDC also welcomed the poll date, with his spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube hailing the proclamation.
In a tweet sent just after President Mugabe proclaimed the date, Dube said: "Election date has been proclaimed. We are in full election mode."
Constitutional Law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the announcement of the poll date was perfectly legal and constitutional.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai said he was pinning hopes on the Sadc Summit slated for Maputo, Mozambique tomorrow to reverse the date.
"No one can force anyone to go for an election," he said. "You know as I did in 2008 when the run off was done I said I am not going to do that (contest). What stops me from repeating (boycotting)?
"I am not under any death sentence. We will assess the situation, but I can tell you that no one will force anyone to do anything. We hope that Sadc will have a consensus around (election) roadmap.
"Sadc should advise President Mugabe that what he has done undermines not only the credibility of Sadc, but his credibility of upholding the Constitution."
He said in coming up with election date without consulting him, President Mugabe was pushing the country into a "constitutional crisis."
Mr Tsvangirai claimed that the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act was "patently" not in compliance with the new Constitution.
He said as such, he had instructed his lawyers to file an urgent chamber application to stop elections from being held.
Mr Tsvangirai convened a Press conference at his party's headquarters on being notified of the election date by President Mugabe and claimed Sadc was forcing him to contest the polls that he wants held on August 25.
While Mr Tsvangirai was damning the elections date, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara - who is also a GPA principal - endorsed the date saying Mr Tsvangirai's antics were out of sync with reality.
"If the reforms Tsvangirai wants were not done in four-and-a-half years, (of the inclusive Government) what will allow them to be done in three months?" he asked.
Prof Mutambara said there was nothing Sadc could do to reverse the election date because it is constitutional.
"The most they can do is to encourage us to work together or nudge us to work together, they cannot challenge Zimbabwean courts," he said.
"We also should not pin too much hope on a foreign body."
Professor Welshman Ncube's MDC also welcomed the poll date, with his spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube hailing the proclamation.
In a tweet sent just after President Mugabe proclaimed the date, Dube said: "Election date has been proclaimed. We are in full election mode."
Constitutional Law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the announcement of the poll date was perfectly legal and constitutional.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai said he was pinning hopes on the Sadc Summit slated for Maputo, Mozambique tomorrow to reverse the date.
"No one can force anyone to go for an election," he said. "You know as I did in 2008 when the run off was done I said I am not going to do that (contest). What stops me from repeating (boycotting)?
"I am not under any death sentence. We will assess the situation, but I can tell you that no one will force anyone to do anything. We hope that Sadc will have a consensus around (election) roadmap.
"Sadc should advise President Mugabe that what he has done undermines not only the credibility of Sadc, but his credibility of upholding the Constitution."
He said in coming up with election date without consulting him, President Mugabe was pushing the country into a "constitutional crisis."
Mr Tsvangirai claimed that the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act was "patently" not in compliance with the new Constitution.
He said as such, he had instructed his lawyers to file an urgent chamber application to stop elections from being held.
Source - herald
