D-Day for by-elections

East constituencies. These fell vacant after the incumbents were fired by the MDC.
It is now four days to go before the deadline.

Minister Chinamasa yesterday said: “We are much aware of that court order and the deadline and we are working on something in relation to that issue.
“I cannot divulge detail on the position, but I will only be able to do that tomorrow (today).”
President Mugabe last month filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking an extension of the deadline to proclaim dates for the by-elections. Minister Chinamasa filed the application on behalf of the President.

This followed a Supreme Court order giving President Mugabe up to August 31 to publish a notice ordering the by-elections to fill the three parliamentary posts. Judge President George Chiweshe granted the application by a month with the consent of both parties’ lawyers.

In drafting the consent order, Advocate Ray Goba represented President Mugabe while Ms Beatrice Mtetwa acted for the former legislators Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Bulilima East) and Norman Mpofu (Lupane East). Minister Chinamasa had submitted that President Mugabe wanted an extension of one month to give him more time to comply with the Supreme Court ruling.

He argued that apart from the three vacant seats, there were in total 28 parliamentary vacant seats and 164 local authority vacant seats. Minister Chinamasa also argued that conducting the by-elections in all those vacant seats was tantamount to a mini-general election where huge financial resources were required.
He said Government needed more time to mobilise more financial resources as the vacant seats were spread across the country, making them more costly. The minister said there was no province or administrative district which was spared from the by-elections one way or the other, either at local or parliamentary level.

He said there were 16 House of Assembly seats, 10 Senatorial seats and two chiefs’ seats, adding that it would be as expensive as holding general elections.
Bhebhe, Mguni and Mpofu were expelled from the MDC and were subsequently relieved of their parliamentary positions. The three former legislators instituted court action after declaring their interest in contesting for the constituencies as independent candidates. Justice Nicholas Ndou last October directed President Mugabe to ensure the by-elections for the three constituencies were held despite the financial challenges Government was facing.