News / National
Power sharing must cease, elections must be held as soon as possible: Mugabe
03 Jun 2011 at 20:37hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said the power-sharing government should end this year and elections held as soon as possible, suggesting polls could even be conducted in 2012, the Herald newspaper said on Friday.
"If we fail, then elections should be held during the first few months of next year. What we want are elections this year," he said.
Mugabe is at odds with rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change who formed a power-sharing government in 2008 after disputed elections.
Tsvangirai wants polls to be held next year, saying that constitutional and political reforms must come first.
The uneasy unity government has brought a measure of stability to the impoverished state holding the world's second-largest platinum reserves.
Early elections could stamp out a nascent recovery and renew political violence, analysts say.
"If we fail, then elections should be held during the first few months of next year. What we want are elections this year," he said.
Mugabe is at odds with rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change who formed a power-sharing government in 2008 after disputed elections.
Tsvangirai wants polls to be held next year, saying that constitutional and political reforms must come first.
The uneasy unity government has brought a measure of stability to the impoverished state holding the world's second-largest platinum reserves.
Early elections could stamp out a nascent recovery and renew political violence, analysts say.
Source - Reuters
