News / National
Zimbabwe elections before March 2012: Mugabe
02 Sep 2011 at 19:15hrs | Views
Zanu-PF Presidential candidate and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says the date for the holding of elections will not go beyond March next year.
Speaking at the Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare this Friday, Mugabe said despite the MDC's reluctance to have elections earlier for fear of losing, he will soon announce the election date, which should not be beyond March 2012.
"Right now we cannot do it because we do not know how far the constitution makers have gone and once the draft constitution has been formulated, at that stage I will definitely announce the date for elections. We will not go beyond that date once I announce it and it does not matter what others will say, once I announce it, that's all. But we will not be unfair, we will give ourselves sufficient time. I have the constitutional right to announce an election date, whether in the GPA or no GPA," said President Mugabe.
The President said the MDC formations are making every effort to cling on to the ramshackle inclusive government by trying to derail the constitution making process, but reiterated that the marriage of convenience has run its full course and should be discarded.
He added that his party has done everything to accommodate the unending and concocted list of demands such as the MDC formations' push for security sector reforms.
Such demands are meaningless as the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have been invited on several united nations peacekeeping missions, a clear indication of the force's professionalism, said Mugabe.
"We cannot continue like this when others continue with their demands for security reforms, we don't do that. The security forces remain what they are and they will not be tempered with by anyone," President Mugabe added.
The President revisited the issue of indigenisation, saying those who have been given farms should not bring back the former oppressors as they have not given up hope of recolonising Africa.
He gave example of Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, who was outwitted by the west when they pretended to mend ties with him over Lockerbie while behind the scenes they were organising the rebels who are now seeking to overthrow him.
The National Consultative Assembly was meeting for the 1st time this year since the Mutare People's Conference in December last year which had come up with resolutions anticipating the end of the illegal sanctions and holding of elections before the end of 2011.
The meeting managed to update members on the situation in the party and progress made since last year's party conference.
The meeting was held at a time the country is preparing for general elections as well as the 2011-12 farming season.
Speaking at the Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare this Friday, Mugabe said despite the MDC's reluctance to have elections earlier for fear of losing, he will soon announce the election date, which should not be beyond March 2012.
"Right now we cannot do it because we do not know how far the constitution makers have gone and once the draft constitution has been formulated, at that stage I will definitely announce the date for elections. We will not go beyond that date once I announce it and it does not matter what others will say, once I announce it, that's all. But we will not be unfair, we will give ourselves sufficient time. I have the constitutional right to announce an election date, whether in the GPA or no GPA," said President Mugabe.
The President said the MDC formations are making every effort to cling on to the ramshackle inclusive government by trying to derail the constitution making process, but reiterated that the marriage of convenience has run its full course and should be discarded.
He added that his party has done everything to accommodate the unending and concocted list of demands such as the MDC formations' push for security sector reforms.
Such demands are meaningless as the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have been invited on several united nations peacekeeping missions, a clear indication of the force's professionalism, said Mugabe.
"We cannot continue like this when others continue with their demands for security reforms, we don't do that. The security forces remain what they are and they will not be tempered with by anyone," President Mugabe added.
The President revisited the issue of indigenisation, saying those who have been given farms should not bring back the former oppressors as they have not given up hope of recolonising Africa.
He gave example of Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, who was outwitted by the west when they pretended to mend ties with him over Lockerbie while behind the scenes they were organising the rebels who are now seeking to overthrow him.
The National Consultative Assembly was meeting for the 1st time this year since the Mutare People's Conference in December last year which had come up with resolutions anticipating the end of the illegal sanctions and holding of elections before the end of 2011.
The meeting managed to update members on the situation in the party and progress made since last year's party conference.
The meeting was held at a time the country is preparing for general elections as well as the 2011-12 farming season.
Source - zbc
