2 more provinces back Mugabe’s extension

By Violet Gonda
14 December 2006

Most eyes are fixed on the ZANU-PF annual conference where the controversial topic of harmonising the presidential and parliamentary elections is expected to be discussed. Eight out of 10 ZANU PF provinces have now adopted the proposal to give Robert Mugabe an extra two years in office. His current six-year term expires in 2008. The state controlled Herald newspaper reported Thursday that only Harare and Mashonaland East have not yet pronounced on the issue because of internal divisions or indecision in their ranks.

Surprising Mugabe chose to give his views on the harmonisation of the two polls in an exclusive interview with a foreign broadcaster, Omni Television of Canada. Mugabe is said to have supported the idea, saying it was better to have simultaneous elections

He is quoted by the Herald telling the television station; "Well, well, actually the suggestion came from me earlier on. I said the six-year term for the President was far too long, and then, of course, it produced the disparity and imbalance, and the discord between the parliamentary and presidential elections.”

Although the regime said this is to being done to avoid the high costs of running separate polls elections, the opposition and civic groups say those who are profiting from Mugabe’s tenure want to keep him there. It’s also believed that serious divisions have been caused over the issue of a suitable successor. Some feel that by extending Mugabe’s term the party will have more time to find a replacement. Many feel of course, that this is just Mugabe determined to hold onto power at all costs.

Dr Lovemore Madhuku, a political analyst and Chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) said there is also a need to analyse carefully to see what ZANU PF wants to do.

He said if they are planning to harmonise the two polls and bring the parliamentary election it would be a good thing if they are accompanied by fundamental reforms. “We are not opposed to bringing forward the presidential elections and parliamentary elections to 2008 provided there are fundamental reforms which will ensure that these elections are free and fair.”

To harmonise and extend Mugabe’s term it means ZANU PF will have to amend the country’s defective constitution which has already been amended a record 17 times, to suit the regime.

Mugabe was quoted as saying; "I will retire, of course, someday, but it all depends on the circumstances. I can't retire if my party is going to be in shambles. But any day we feel we are ready for that retirement -- that is we as a party feel we are ready for it – sure."

When asked to comment on whether the pro-democracy movement would have a problem if both elections were run in 2010, Madhuku said it will depend on what will be in place between those years. He said firstly it’s “definitely not to extend the present president’s term and secondly that in-between we have fundamental reforms and a new constitution.”

The NCA official said if the ruling party decides to extend Mugabe’s term they would have given the pro-democracy movement the opportunity to unite, as happened in 2000 when the public rejected the ZANU PF imposed constitution.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said; “The argument that ZANU PF wants to synchronize presidential and parliamentary polls as a way of saving tax-payers money does not convince Zimbabweans who know how the party has been abusing national funds in the past 26 years. The holding of senatorial elections on 26 November 2005, eight months after the parliamentary poll in March vindicates the Coalition’s cynicism about the fiscal discipline argument.”

The Tsvangirai MDC described the conference in Goromonzi as a “muppet show” of “Zanu PF’s zealots disguised as a people’s conference while ordinary Zimbabweans continue to wallow in abject poverty and starvation.”

Critics say what is needed in Zimbabwe right now is an all stakeholders conference to find ways of ending the crisis in the country.