Mugabe says elections next year with or without new constitution

By Tichaona Sibanda
5 March 2010

Robert Mugabe has said that fresh elections to replace the troubled inclusive government will be held next year ‘with or without a new constitution.’

Briefing journalists at a news conference in Harare on Thursday Mugabe said the Global Political Agreement has a two year lifespan which means that ‘if the constitution-making process succeeds there will be an election and if it fails that too would lead to an election.’

But Mugabe said the period of the inclusive government could be extended if the party principals sat down and decided on the matter ‘as long as it was constitutional’.

The ZANU PF leader also revealed that he would stand for re-election if his party decides to nominate him.

If elections are held next year analysts are questioning whether any safety measures will be in place to assure the people of Zimbabwe that the process will go smoothly, that there will be no violence and that and the people’s mandate will be respected and honoured.

Human rights lawyer Dewa Mavhinga said the challenge has to do with what is happening on the ground at the moment to prepare for credible, free and fair elections.

‘Clearly for ZANU PF a new and democratic constitution would be an inconvenience to them—so it would do them well to have elections without democratic transparent and accountable systems. These would enable them again to rig their way into power,’ Mavhinga said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC party have in the last few weeks called for fresh elections next year, but under a new constitution. Tsvangirai insists a new constitution should be enacted by the end of this year followed by fresh elections six months later.
Mavhinga noted that it would be naïve for the MDC not to be preparing for the elections next year, even in the eventuality that a new constitution is not in place.

‘It is in the interest of the MDC and all democratic forces to ensure that conditions are in place, institutions are in place, for the holding of a credible, free and fair election in Zimbabwe and not for a repeat of the 2008 fiasco of a sham election,’ Mavhinga added.

An MDC insider told us their party has long been preparing for elections since the disputed poll in 2008. Every weekend, teams of MDC officials are dispatched to all provinces to address party supporters from branch, ward and district levels.

‘We’ve never stopped engaging people since 2008. Our secretary-general (Tendai Biti) is on record saying the MDC is ready for an election yesterday, today or tomorrow. This shows preparatory work is already underway on the ground,’ the MDC MP said.