Harare:There was outrage in Harare over a supreme court ruling that yesterday declared that Zimbabwe should hold elections within the upcoming 8 weeks’ time.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku yesterday ordered President Robert Mugabe to proclaim election date and hold elections before 31 July.
“The 1st respondent is ordered and directed to proclaim dares for Presidential, General and election governing bodies in terms of section 58(1) of the constitution, which election should take place by not later 31 July 2013,” Justice Chiweshe ruled on Friday.
Zanu PF has been demanding immediate elections following the end of the current Parliament on June 29, while the MDC formations state that a four-month delay is constitutionally possible.
The MDC formations have been calling for an adjustment to allow implementation of further reforms. These reforms include key matters such as security sector concerns which the MDCs have complained about saying that Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF would stand at an unfair advantage against them.
Last week the court reserved judgement on the case in which the controversial director of the Centre for Elections and Democracy in Southern Africa Jealousy Mawarire, was sought that President Robert Mugabe should announce elections date before June 29.
Mawarire in his court papers argued that with the looming of the expiry of the life of parliament come the 29th of June 2013, read against the inaction in the part of his excellence the President in so far as proclaiming the dates for the holding of elections is concerned was going to lead to a very distinct possibility that beyond the 31st of June the country was going to be running effectively by decree because they will be no parliament. The country needs U$130 million to hold polls.
But Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed the supreme court ruling saying the court had no power to set an election date adding also that the judges had “overstepped their mandate.”
Said Tsvangirai through his spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka.
“The Supreme Court has no power whatsoever to set an election date. In the true spirit of separation of powers, an election date remains a political process in which the executive has a role to play…
“There is clear evidence that there are some within the executive who wish to circumvent the consultative role in the GPA and the share responsibility enshrined therein to pronounce an election date under the cloak of judicial authority.
“An election date is the responsibility of the executive, which has not shown that it has failed to announce such a date. SADC and the people of Zimbabwe know that an election date is a result of political pronouncements in which the judiciary has no role to play.
“The Principals have a consultative mechanism that would ensure that a date is proclaimed following an agreement by all parties. This is what SADC, the AU and the people of Zimbabwe expect, not a date set up under the cover of the judiciary without a mechanism to ensure to that issues of the election environment and reforms are addressed.”
17 Replies to “Zimbabwe:Outrage Over Judge’s Verdict On 31 July Election Date”
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Kikikikiki ……the occult party have always ignored numerous court rulings and this particular verdict rubber stamped by their judicial gestapos which they will rushedly follow shows how desperate they have become.
Chando Kupisa go to this website http://www.chinesewomendate.com.
Hezvooo!!!
Taura hako Tsoka.
The verdict is a subversion of the GPA. It is imperative to understand the causal factors which led to the formation of the GPA. Very shallow people are trying to wish this arrangement away and try to act as if its business as usual. The pseudo-democrats mistakenly think that the fact of holding an election is testimony of adherence to a democratic process. Whats the motivation in hurrying into an election whilst the pre-requisites even by the SADC guidelines are still not attained.
Dear Comrades,
Since “an election date remains a political process in which the executive has a role to play”, then I do not see where the problem. Politics is about power, so between the two Mugabe and Morgan, the one who is political stronger will set the date. Since 1980 we have seen election dates come and go, and the standard of living for the majority going down.
In short a new constitution and an election date will not solve our present day problems. Both MDC and ZANU are run by Kitchen cabinets, so shall their governance be. They have shown that they are not working for the majority who are poor today. I say so because their delivery records are a public record they have failed the people.
Comrade Naked on Sun just said the silliest thing- coke has always been in red cans and its not MDC fault if open hands are on there- that is just paranoia on behalf on the ruling party…
Either way, how the hell are they planning to have elections so soon when there is no money?
At long last this GNU rubbish is coming to an end.
Do not worry, an election date will be proclaimed in the future only God knows. The principals themselves do not know. What is the hurry for. The GNU has lasted for 5 years. Courts or no courts is of no relevancy. Mugabe was ordered to conduct bye elections for Matabeleland nothing happened.
In between now and the date, employment has been created and the quiet economy is ticking on.Political pundits will make money putting forward theories and arguments. Those going to a discussion on implications of the court ruling, Madhuku, Ncube and Mwonzora will be paid expenses. Fuel will be consumed as the audience ravels to the venue. Drinks will be sold. I will wait for these guys to say their piece, I will pay for my broadband in order to learn of their deliberations. The cycle goes on. What I know for sure is insults will be traded as we publish our opinions. Zimbabwe is really great as I enjoy my Coke in a red tin and will try to Save a few coins change from Barclays atm.
Why should Swangilayi demand for reforms when Multi-national companies are already campaigning for MDC T. Coke has red tins, Barclays TM calls people to Save. Most companies use Swangilayi totem Save.
SADC chaiyo? Let’s wait the next 2wks mozotiudza kuti munenge mave papi. Panoti SADC ndopakafira sarungano wechinja. Vanhu vepi vasingaguti kunyarwa? ‘reform’ means change saka tikangoiita tinenge tadochinja maitiro, hatina kupusa uye hatisi kuzochinja. Gpa haina mukosho mukuru kupfuura supreme law, atori mahumbwe zviya zvokunzi batanai maoko maregererana musazorwa futi. Hanzi iwe tonga nyika(robert) iwe tonga hurumende (tsvangirai), manje wanakirwa netushomatwo hauchada kunzwa chinonzi election. Rwendo rwuno haubudi.
Its the constitutional court not the supreme court you idiots!
JZ unopenga nhai Ko mareforms, Ko voter education, Ko voter registration. Zvese izvi zvinoda nguva nemari irikubiwa nezvivanhu zvezanu pf.
Zanu called for elections since 2009.in fact zanu does not want them since most oe them will automatically lose .g.n.u gave zanu some life vanhu vanoziva idi chero zanu ichimanikidza vanhu
Election date is now a constitutional issue since key participants are the electorate. GNU failed to come up with election date, people who absconded their mandate should leave consitutional issues to the supreme court. Does Tsvangirai want to deprive citizens of the right to know election dates. People also need to prepare for elections so they have a right to know dates, this right holds more water than party politics. A true democratic leader should let the law of the land hold and respect constitutionalism. Muchatinetsa imi munoda kungoita nharo pese pese.
I foresee the July 31 not feasible considering the legal interface implementation and alignment of the constitution. Zanoids have been calling for elections since 2009 and now the zanoo courts have concluded July 31……The honest truth is the cut off date is not practical and logical as this verdict was reached using the old laws…..comical indeed. Besides the usual zanoid frothing and farting whether we like or not SADC will decide when elections are to be held.
The supreme court is actually subverting The GPA . The supreme court is even powerless when it comes to vote rigging by Zanu Pf yet they have passed on a ruling that promotes vote rigging. The reason why we have a GPA is because of disputed elections under present conditions. People like Mudede are busy perfecting their rigging skills and without reforms Zanu Pf will again steal the elections.