Zanu-PF agree to election date extension

Zanu-PF party has agreed to ask the country's Constitutional Court to extend the date for elections in Zimbabwe.

Zanu-PF has been taking part in a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit on Zimbabwe in Maputo.

Southern African leaders earlier asked Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, the chief Zanu-PF negotiator, to ask for a 14 day extension.

President Robert Mugabe earlier proclaimed July 31 as the election date, citing a Constitutional Court ruling that the vote should be held by then.

The two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions, which also took part in the summit, are opposed to even an extended date, saying security and media reforms are needed in Zimbabwe before any vote can take place.

SADC's facilitator for Zimbabwe, President Jacob Zuma, says the summit was a success.

Mugabe, 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."

The MDC-T – which insists more reforms must be implemented before the elections can be held - appeared to be elated, with party secretary general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti saying Mugabe's advisers had "embarrassed (him) before an entire SADC summit."

"SADC has saved the nation by adopting fully the recommendations made by facilitator President Jacob Zuma and therefore nullifying the proclamation. Now Zimbabweans have an opportunity for a free and fair election," told reporters.

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.