PM still keen to delay elections

desperation in light of several recent surveys that pointed to his political demise.

Mr Tsvangirai went on a wild goose chase in the Sadc region recently lobbying for an extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe pursuant to postponing elections to September or October.

He was largely rebuffed, prompting him to take his campaign to central and East Africa which have nothing to do with the GPA.

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Speaking to journalists after witnessing the registration of his children Vincent and Millicent as first time voters in Mt Pleasant, Harare, yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai suggested an October poll, saying the Constitution guarantees four months of executive authority after the dissolution of Parliament.

“After the signing of the Constitution there would be one month compulsory voter registration.
“After that one month, there is another one month of voter inspection.”

Mr Tsvangirai’s claims also followed demands by his party over the weekend to conduct fresh voter registration, a move that was read as an attempt to buy time beyond June 29.

Mr Tsvangirai encouraged first-time voters to register, claiming there was a huge backlog of eligible voters struggling to register.

“I am sure you are aware that Cabinet made a couple of decisions to make voter registration easier for the people. We have a huge backlog of first time voters,” PM Tsvangirai said.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday said MDC-T was clearly bent on delaying their defeat at the polls this year.

“Tsvangirai and the MDC-T are clearly afraid of going to the elections because they know they will lose. The law is clear that elections should be held by June 29 and there is no need to further extend the life of this inclusive Government,” he said.

Cde Gumbo dismissed claims by MDC-T over the weekend that the ongoing voter registration exercise was biased towards Zanu-PF.

“It is a lie, they just want to establish grounds to justify their impending defeat. As Zanu-PF we also have our complaints against the Registrar-General’s Office, but we said to ourselves that it is the voice of the people that will count at the elections.

“There is no need to, therefore, start a new process of voter registration, they just want to employ delaying tactics that will, however, not work.”

Opinion polls carried by a number of organisations, most of which have traditionally backed the MDC-T, indicate the party will lose the elections due to its failure to articulate practical policies to shape a government.

MDC-T has failed to come up with a manifesto, and has since roped in outsiders — among them CIA agents — to rescue the situation at a policy conference scheduled to begin Friday and run into the weekend.

Corruption in MDC-T has alienated the party from voters and will negatively impact on its performance in the forthcoming elections.

The draft Constitution has sailed through the House of Assembly and would be tabled before the Senate today and after its passage will be signed into law by President Mugabe.
President Mugabe has already said election dates will be made public this week after the passing of the Constitution.