MDC-T delayed holding of elections: President

Midlands Bureau Chief
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe wanted to hold its harmonised elections long ago to end the ineffective inclusive Government but MDC-T delayed the elections as they came up with varied excuses. Addressing close to thousands of party supporters in Gweru yesterday, President Mugabe said Sadc had given the inclusive Government one-and-a-half years to allow the parties time to craft a new constitution and hold fresh elections.
“We wanted to have elections long back. We had been given one-and-a-half years as Government of National Unity but when the time was up, we failed to hold the elections.

“Again we failed to hold elections after two years. We then went a further three years and then four years without elections. The MDC-T would always come up with excuses for prolonging the life of the inclusive Government. However, after five years, we said no to the GNU. We had no choice this year. Elections had to be held at all cost this year because parliament had ended on 29 June,” said President Mugabe.

The Head of State and Government said the MDC-T tried to delay the conclusion of the new constitution so that elections are not held this year but it did not work.

“MDC-T said there were still some outstanding issues that needed to be attended to first. We told Mr Tsvangirai and his MDC-T colleagues that they should use the outstanding issues in their manifesto and campaign with that. I was compelled by the courts to make a proclamation that we will have elections this year on 31 July. I had to follow the courts ruling. Even a president has to follow the courts ruling,” he said.

President Mugabe said he was confident of victory in the harmonised elections because Zanu-PF policies were for the people.
He said people should vote for him so that his government continues with the work of revamping industries and the economy brought to their knees by the illegal sanctions.

President Mugabe said Finance Minister, Mr Tendai Biti of MDC-T, could have diverted funds meant for the revamping of Bulawayo industries to his party’s campaign programmes.

Mr Biti received $500 000 million for the resuscitation of industries from the International Monetary Fund earned through Zimbabwe’s drawing rights.