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Mutambara gave it the thumbs up, while Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai sang the familiar boycott tune, drawing brickbats from analysts who reminded him everyone submits to the law.
Mr Tsvangirai convened a Press conference at his party’s headquarters on being notified of the election date by President Mugabe and claimed Sadc was forcing him to contest the polls that he wants held on August 25.
While Mr Tsvangirai was damning the elections date, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara — who is also a GPA principal — endorsed the date saying Mr Tsvangirai’s antics were out of sync with reality.
“If the reforms Tsvangirai wants were not done in four-and-a-half years, (of the inclusive Government) what will allow them to be done in three months?” he asked.
Prof Mutambara said there was nothing Sadc could do to reverse the election date because it is constitutional.
“The most they can do is to encourage us to work together or nudge us to work together, they cannot challenge Zimbabwean courts,” he said.
“We also should not pin too much hope on a foreign body.”
Professor Welshman Ncube’s MDC also welcomed the poll date, with his spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube hailing the proclamation.
In a tweet sent just after President Mugabe proclaimed the date, Dube said: “Election date has been proclaimed. We are in full election mode.”
Constitutional Law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the announcement of the poll date was perfectly legal and constitutional.
“For the sake of the rule of law and constitutionalism, the country had to comply with the constitutional court ruling at all costs.
“In terms of the proclamation, voters are still allowed to register to vote beyond June 28 when we have the nomination court sitting.”
Law expert Mr Godwills Masimirembwa said Mr Tsvangirai’s utterances showed that he does not respect the rule of law.
“It shows that if he assumes power he is going to be a dictator who does not respect the rule of law,” he said.
Said political analyst Mr Gabriel Chaibva: “The finishing line is now clearly defined and drawn, let those who are seeking office get on their marks, get ready and go for elections.”
“Tsvangirai knows that most influential people around the world have predicted that he will lose that is why he wants to boycott the elections and hope this might lead to violence and demonstrations.”
Platform for Youth Development director Mr Claris Madhuku said Mr Tsvangirai was clearly afraid of defeat after several of his allies predicted in recent surveys that he would not win.
“Members of the MDC-T might be ready for the elections, but because Tsvangirai is looking at the fact that he might lose this election he wants to boycott them and go against the law,” he said.
Midlands State University lecturer Dr Christopher Gwatidzo said Mr Tsvangirai’s threats to boycott the elections would not scare away Zimbabweans from voting.
“If Tsvangirai thinks Zimbabweans will follow him in boycotting the elections he is going to be surprised, he will do it alone,” he said.
Another political analyst said Mr Tsvangirai should know that elections are not for political parties, but for the people of Zimbabwe.
“They are for the people Zimbabwe to choose a Parliament they want through which they can form a new Government,” said the analyst.
Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Bishop Johannes Ndanga said Mr Tsvangirai wanted to boyctott the elections because he is aware he would not win.
“British and United States newspapers have predicted that President Mugabe will win, therefore, he is trying by all means to delay the elections so he can pave way for him to buy time and continue in the inclusive Government,” he said.
“We want him to participate in the elections.”
Council of Apostolic Churches of Zimbabwe national chairman Bishop Clemence Chisango said boycotting elections would divide people.
“As a church we want peace, we want to preach the word of God in peace,” he said. “Let us come to agree with the elections date.”
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Mr Ozias Dinha said the proclamation of the date was welcome as long as business was not disrupted.
“For us, the major concern is the period building up to the vote, the period during the vote and the period after the vote,” he said.
“The country’s image must be maintained so that we continue to have the ability to maintain our current markets and create new ones.”
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai said he was pinning hopes on the Sadc Summit slated for Maputo, Mozambique tomorrow to reverse the date.
“No one can force anyone to go for an election,” he said. “You know as I did in 2008 when the run off was done I said I am not going to do that (contest). What stops me from repeating (boycotting)?
“I am not under any death sentence. We will assess the situation, but I can tell you that no one will force anyone to do anything. We hope that Sadc will have a consensus around (election) roadmap.
“Sadc should advise President Mugabe that what he has done undermines not only the credibility of Sadc, but his credibility of upholding the Constitution.”
He said in coming up with election date without consulting him, President Mugabe was pushing the country into a “constitutional crisis.”
Mr Tsvangirai claimed that the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act was “patently” not in compliance with the new Constitution.
He said as such, he had instructed his lawyers to file an urgent chamber application to stop elections from being held.
Online Reporter