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This is contrary to claims in some sections of the private media that the President took a unilateral decision in setting the poll dates.
Mr Charamba yesterday said the decision was agreed on before the President left for the United Nations General Assembly in the United States last week.
“The decision to petition the High Court over the extension of deadline for the elections was borne out of consensus between the principals.
“It was not a (President) Mugabe thing or (Minister Patrick) Chinamasa thing.
“President Mugabe and Minister Chinamasa were only giving legal effect to the petition (agreed by all parties) because they are the people who have constitutional mandate to do so,” he said.
Mr Charamba said the principals — President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara — agreed that it was important to subsume by-elections into general elections to reduce costs.
The President, who was cited as the respondent by three former MDC legislators, was expected to publish by-election dates for Nkayi South, Lupane East and Bulilima East by October 1.
His lawyer Advocate Ray Goba, instructed by the Attorney-General’s Office, successfully obtained an order for the extension, which effectively suspends by-elections until the country goes for the harmonised elections next year.
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After hearing arguments on merits of the case, Judge President George Chiweshe on Tuesday ruled that the period within which to comply with the order granted in case Number SC267/11 was further extended to March 31, 2013.
In his application, President Mugabe argued that Government does not have funds to conduct by-elections when harmonised polls were expected in six months.
Conducting by-elections was going to cost Government US$47 547 036 while the constitutional referendum would gobble US$115 374 890.
The President further argued that the vacant seats were spread across the country, making it more costly to hold the by-elections.
Sources in the inclusive Government said following the extension of the deadline by the High Court, harmonised elections were likely to be held during the last week of March 2013.
“Once the Constitution-making process is complete, we will start to prepare for elections.
“Harmonised elections are likely to be held during the third or fourth week of March next year,” said the source.
Meanwhile, sources say Government has taken over the Constitution-making process and that the remaining stages were no longer party or parliamentary processes.
It is understood that the principals would now oversee the organising and subsequent holding of the Second All Stakeholders Conference.
“As you can see Minister (Eric) Matinenga (Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs) is the one who is now leading the executive management of the Second All Stakeholders’ Conference.
“The stakeholders’ conference is not going to be a decision-making forum. It is going to give people an opportunity to comment on the Copac draft and read its authenticity against the national report,” said a source.
It is understood that the number of delegates attending the conference would be trimmed in line with Government’s budget.
After the conference, sources said Minister Matinenga, as the chairperson of the Government Management Committee, would submit the document to the principals for the way forward.
Legal experts say there were three possible scenarios that the principals could pursue after receiving the document.
‘They (principals) may assign a retired or sitting judge to elicit constitutional views expressed during the stakeholders conference and factor them in the Copac draft.
“They may ask political parties to second lawyers to do that work before they send the document to Parliament where further changes may as well be proposed and effected,” said Harare lawyer.
From Parliament, the draft would be taken to the referendum.
Copac sources yesterday said 1 100 delegates would attend the conference set for October 17 to 19.
Online Reporter