News / National
Mugabe happy with Sadc outcome, to appeal election date ruling
16 Jun 2013 at 12:03hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe said Saturday that he was "happy" with the outcome of SADC's extra-ordinary summit in Maputo which urged him to seek a two-week delay to the court ruling ordering elections to be held before July 31.
Last Thursday Mugabe angered the MDC parties after declaring elections would be held at the end of the next month, arguing he was merely complying with a Constitutional Court order following an application by a Harare-based political activist.
Regional leaders however, urged him to return to the same court to seek a two week delay.
The Zanu-PF leader said the resolution was a "happy outcome" for Zimbabwe adding Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa would appeal the Constitutional Court ruling.
"It is a happy outcome for Zimbabwe... the final decision was that perhaps we should appeal to the court to examine the reasons for the arguments that have been made by others for giving people a little longer time," Mugabe said just before returning home after the meeting.
"Our Ministry of Justice is going to do that to appeal to the court and the decision of the court then will be binding on us.
"But if the Court says okay go beyond July 31st by a week or two, I hope it will satisfy the others who want a little more time."
Mugabe accused his rivals of using the demand for reforms to mask the fact that they did not want to go for elections.
"The other parties do not want elections, they are afraid of elections; they know they are going to lose and it's a sure case that they are going to lose," he said.
"These past five years have exposed all of us and exposed us in terms of what we are. Our sense of honesty or lack of it, our purposefulness or lack of it, and naturally the serious intent with which we have to govern."
Chinamasa also warned the MDC formations that any further reforms must be agreed with his Zanu-PF party.
Last Thursday Mugabe angered the MDC parties after declaring elections would be held at the end of the next month, arguing he was merely complying with a Constitutional Court order following an application by a Harare-based political activist.
Regional leaders however, urged him to return to the same court to seek a two week delay.
The Zanu-PF leader said the resolution was a "happy outcome" for Zimbabwe adding Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa would appeal the Constitutional Court ruling.
"It is a happy outcome for Zimbabwe... the final decision was that perhaps we should appeal to the court to examine the reasons for the arguments that have been made by others for giving people a little longer time," Mugabe said just before returning home after the meeting.
"Our Ministry of Justice is going to do that to appeal to the court and the decision of the court then will be binding on us.
"But if the Court says okay go beyond July 31st by a week or two, I hope it will satisfy the others who want a little more time."
Mugabe accused his rivals of using the demand for reforms to mask the fact that they did not want to go for elections.
"The other parties do not want elections, they are afraid of elections; they know they are going to lose and it's a sure case that they are going to lose," he said.
"These past five years have exposed all of us and exposed us in terms of what we are. Our sense of honesty or lack of it, our purposefulness or lack of it, and naturally the serious intent with which we have to govern."
Chinamasa also warned the MDC formations that any further reforms must be agreed with his Zanu-PF party.
Source - newswires
