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“I need to inform this honourable court that if we factor in the holding of by-elections, there would be three key events to take place and to be funded by Government within the duration of six months,” he said.
“These events are the referendum, (expected to take place during the first week of November), the by-elections (which if a proclamation is done by the 1st October, 2012 would take place in December 2012) and the harmonised general elections (by the end of March 2013).
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“This makes the six months period from 1st October, 2012 heavily congested with important national events,” said the President.
He argued that by-elections, according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, required US$47 547 036, the referendum needed US$104 651 273, while harmonised elections would gobble US$115 374 890.
“There have been consultations over the financial resources required for holding these three key events.
“If we take into account the costs as at present, the funds are not available to hold by-elections.”
President Mugabe said there were 16 vacant House of Assembly seats, 10 Senatorial seats (now 11 following the death of MDCT-Senator for Chipinge Mr Josiah Rimbi on Monday), two chiefs’ seats and 164 local authority seats.
“Although the original High Court order related to three parliamentary vacant seats only, the legal position obtaining in those three vacant seats is equally applicable to all vacant seats,” argued President Mugabe.
“As a matter of fact, there is an application pending in the High Court for an order requiring by-elections to be held in the rest of the vacant seats countrywide.
“Holding by-elections on such magnitude is tantamount to holding a mini-general election. There is no province, administrative district that would be spared of one form of political campaigning or other.”
President Mugabe argued that the vacant seats were spread across the country, making them more costly to hold.
Bhebhe, Mguni and Mpofu were expelled from the MDC and were subsequently relieved of their parliamentary positions.
The trio instituted court action after declaring interest in contesting for the constituencies as independent candidates.
Online Reporter