Zimbabwean court backs July 31 poll date despite opposition worries

Zimbabwe is set to stage national elections on July 31, after the nation's highest court Thursday dismissed an application by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to delay the voting.

 

The move hands a win to President Robert Mugabe, a political foe of Tsvangirai's, who had decreed the July 31 date.

 

"After perusing the papers and hearing counsel, the court unanimously concludes that the applications should be dismissed ... For the avoidance of doubt, elections should be held on July 31 in terms of the proclamation by the president of Zimbabwe in compliance of the order of this court," said Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku late Thursday after hearing arguments from lawyers for both sides.

 

Mugabe set the election date after a private lawsuit had claimed that citizens' rights were being flouted because the nation's constitution called for elections by June 29, when the last parliament expired.

 

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party had initially favoured a vote by June 29, but opted for the later date after a court ruling, despite lobbying from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community asking the president to seek a further extension to allow democratic reforms.

 

Mugabe, 89, is Africa's oldest leader and has been in power since 1980. He is seeking another five-year term under Zimbabwe's new constitution, which allows a maximum of two terms, but does not count those served before the constitution came into power.

 

In 2008, Tsvangirai, won the first round of a presidential election. He withdrew from the second round after violence instigated by Zanu-PF members left about 200 members of his Movement for Democratic Change party dead.

 

Mugabe went on to claim victory, but African leaders declared the polls a sham and forced the two rivals to form a power-sharing government in 2009.

 

-Sapa