Zimbabwe’s Unity Government Partners Agree Elections Not Possible This Year
Edwin Mushoriwa, a negotiator for the Welshman Ncube-led MDC formation,
added that it will suicidal for Mr. Mugabe to call snap elections, as he did
in 2008 and as some still fear he may do at some point this year
Blessing Zulu, Thabang Mathebula & Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington & Bulawayo
22 April 2011
Energy Minister Elton Mangoma, a negotiator for the Movement for Democratic
Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said that he and all
of his fellow unity government party negotiators agree that elections are
not possible this year
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party are preparing to
roll back on their demand that new elections be organized this year amid
growing pressure from within and outside the country, sources close to
intra-government talks said Friday.
The Southern African Development Community and its mediator in Harare, South
African President Jacob Zuma, have signaled that they won’t bless a snap
election unless all signatories to the 2008 Global Political Agreement agree
on the proposed date.
Negotiators for the three unity government parties – including ZANU-PF –
delivered the final blow to hopes among ZANU-PF hardliners pressing for
elections this year. The negotiators concluded that elections can only be
held next year at the earliest.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has said it lacks the means to run 2001
elections, noting that its funding is insufficient and its staff needs
additional training. The Electoral Commission was reconstituted in 2010,
replacing its discredited predecessor whose handling of 2008 election
results drew international condemnation.
Asked about the possible election date, Lindiwe Zulu, an adviser to Mr.
Zuma, said this will largely be determined by the road map negotiators have
sent to their principals.
ZANU-PF Chairman Simon Khaya Moyo referred all questions to the party’s
negotiators but hinted that the party is backpedaling from its earlier call
for 2011 elections.
Energy Minister Elton Mangoma, a negotiator for the Movement for Democratic
Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said that he and all
of his fellow unity government party negotiators agree that elections are
not possible this year.
Edwin Mushoriwa, a negotiator for the Welshman Ncube-led MDC formation,
added that it will suicidal for Mr. Mugabe to call snap elections, as some
fear he still may.
Elsewhere, street battles and rock-throwing brought the Bulawayo provincial
elections for the Tsvangirai MDC formation to a premature end on Friday.
Dozens of youths backing the rival candidacies of Senator Matson Hlalo and
State Enterprises Minister Gorden Moyo, formerly a senior aide to Prime
Minister Tsvangirai, escalated their differences into a street fight in the
Matabeleland capital pelting each other with stones, smashing cars and
fighting each other in the city center, correspondent Thabang Mathebula
reported from Bulawayo.
Commenting, political analyst Effie Dlela Ncube said it is time for Mr.
Tsvangirai to show leadership and stop the violence and bitter wrangling
within his party which has seen a number of such incidents on its way to a
May congress to ready for elections.