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He has up to 1 October to announce the dates for the by-elections.
Judge President George Chiweshe granted the application that was brought under a certificate of urgency with the consent of both parties’ lawyers.
President Mugabe had sought the extension of the deadline at the High Court following a Supreme Court order giving him up to yesterday to publish a notice ordering the by-elections to fill three parliamentary posts in Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East constituencies.
Advocate Ray Goba, who represented the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, yesterday confirmed that the deadline has been extended to 1 October.
“It was a very simple consent order, it was agreed that the deadline be extended to October 1”.
He said he had met Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, who is acting for former legislators Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East), at the AG’s Office and drafted the consent order.
Ms Mtetwa confirmed the latest development saying both parties had no problems with the President’s request.
“We consented to the relief sought by the President that the deadline be extended by one month,” said Ms Mtetwa.
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa had filed the application on behalf of President Mugabe.
In the application he 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 are in total 28 parliamentary vacant seats and 164 local authority vacant seats. The Minister argued that conducting the by-elections in 28 parliamentary constituencies as well as in 164 local authorities was tantamount to a mini-general election where huge financial resources are required.
He said if the application was granted it would enable Government to mobilise more financial resources as the vacant seats were spread across the country, making them more costly.
Minister Chinamasa said there was no province or administrative district which was spared from the by-election 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.
Bhebe, Mguni and Mpofu were expelled from the MDC and were subsequently relieved of their parliamentary positions.
The three former legislators instituted the 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 is facing.
The judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court on 12 July.
Online Reporter