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“Well, basically it was to give an update in terms of the constitution-making process and this was against a letter the South African president received from the two MDC formations imploring him to intervene,” the source said.
“So, the President gave him an update on the constitution-making process. The processes under way and the progress so far which he (Zuma) reckoned is remarkable.
“The President told him we are going to the second All Stakeholders’ Conference where two documents will be presented, the Copac Draft Constitution and the National Report so that the nation can be given an opportunity to read the draft against the national report.”
President Mugabe and his South African counterpart, the source said, agreed that constitution-making is a national process that must be led by Zimbabweans.
“President Mugabe assured his South African counterpart that Zimbabwe will not let Sadc down on that matter,” the source said.
President Mugabe apprised Mr Zuma of the apparent legal complications arising from the constitution-making process on the one hand and the Supreme Court ruling ordering by-elections in three vacant constituencies against the backdrop of vacancies in more than 30 constituencies that would necessitate a mini general election just a few months short of harmonised elections tenable by June next year.
“The President also explained the apparent legal complication arising from the process of constitution-making on the one hand versus the Supreme Court ruling, but also to get the South African president to appreciate the fact that the electoral vacancies in our system are of such magnitude as to almost require a mini general election. So there are serious cost implications and also time implications.”
The source revealed that there was agreement between parties to the inclusive Government that it would be expensive and unwarranted to conduct a mini general election just a few months, if not weeks before scheduled harmonised elections.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti recently announced that Government was mobilising money to pay civil servants bonuses and fund agriculture, making it impossible for Treasury to fund by-elections this year which he said would gobble $60 million if they were to be held in the 38 vacant constituencies.
Minister Biti said Government had not budgeted for by-elections this year as there were priority areas that needed funding besides elections.
“There are two conflicting issues which are affordability of by-elections versus respect of the court order when we had not budgeted for them,” said the source.
The source said such sentiments resonate with the accord reached by the three GPA parties.
The Supreme Court recently upheld a Bulawayo High Court decision that by-elections be held in three Matabeleland constituencies whose former legislators lost their seats following their expulsion from the Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC.
The affected MPs, Mr Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Mr Njabuliso Mguni (Bulilima East) and Mr Norman Mpofu (Lupane East) then instituted court action demanding the holding of the by-elections.
They declared their interest to contest the constituencies as independent candidates.
In its judgment, the court ruled that by-elections be held despite Government’s submission that there was no money for the exercise.
President Mugabe was given up to 1 October to proclaim dates for the by-elections.
President Mugabe is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly today along with holding bilateral meetings with Presidents Michael Chilufya Sata of Zambia, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.
The President of the 67th session of the General Assembly has chosen: “Adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means” as the theme for this year’s debate.
Online Reporter