Tsvangirai on polls

President Mugabe has already indicated that the country will conduct the polls this year with or without the new constitution.
However, addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, PM Tsvangirai said it was his hope that the new draft would be approved by voters.
“If the draft constitution is rejected, we will fall back to the Lancaster House constitution,” he said.

“My attitude is that we have wasted too much effort and time in this process and hopefully as I am told by the management committee areas of conflict are minimal.
“I am told there is disagreement on the issue of dual citizenship and devolution and I hope a position will be found to accommodate them,” he said. 
The draft constitution is yet to be finalised because of continuous haggling among parties in the inclusive Government on the inclusion of certain issues in the new constitution.

Some of the issues that are stalling the finalisation of the draft constitution include the issue of devolution, dual citizenship and the death penalty.
PM Tsvangirai insisted on certain reforms such as the implementation of the agreed election roadmap and completion of the ongoing constitution- making process before the country holds new polls.

He said if the “necessary reforms” were completed money had to be found to hold elections this year.
“If there is no money, we have to find a way. The funds have to be available,” he said.
The PM’s remarks contradict the statements made by his MDC-T party secretary general and Finance Minister, Mr Tendai Biti recently that Government had no money to fund elections this year.

Minister Biti said treasury had only budgeted for the referendum and national census to be held later this year.
PM Tsvangirai said demands being made by his MDC-T party before elections were not “a pie in the sky”.
He said he would continue to lobby Sadc to ensure the implementation of the demands.

PM Tsvangirai could not explain what his party would do if President Mugabe called for general elections without implementation of the so-called reforms.
“My party will make a decision but it is premature to say my party will do this if President Mugabe calls for elections. We expect the President to respect the constitution and the election roadmap agreed by the negotiators. If he proceeds to call for elections unilaterally, we will take a position depending on the prevailing circumstances,” he said.

Turning to the economy, PM Tsvangirai attacked the ongoing indigenisation process saying it had affected many sectors.  
He said the Ministry of Investment Promotion was not serving any purpose because Government was undermining investment through the indigenisation policy.