Principals on GPA extension

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By GETRUDE GUMEDE

Published: September 18, 2009

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – The three principals under the Global Political Agreement are exploring the possibility of extending the one-year deadline they had set for their parties not to contest each other should by-elections arise in various constituencies throughout the country.

The development comes in the wake of reports that the parties are set to battle in by-elections for vacant House of Assembly and Senate seats following the death, expulsion or appointment of legislators to other posts.

The parties concurred under the GPA that they would not contest each other in by-elections for a year from the date of signing.

The three parties signed the GPA in Harare on 15 September last year and the one-year period lapsed on Tuesday.

Zanu-PF chief negotiator in the GPA, Patrick Chinamasa, on Friday said the one-year period, which was agreed to under the political pact has expired, giving the parties a green light to compete against each other.

He revealed that the by-elections date would be proclaimed once the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has been reconstituted.

“We are in the process of reconstructing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and once the organisation is in place then the by-elections date will be announced. The by-elections will be held after all the necessary preparations are done,” said Chinamasa, the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.

MDC chief negotiator in the GPA, Professor Welshman Ncube told said the issue of the by-elections was being discussed by the negotiators for the three political parties in the all-inclusive Government.

“Technically and theoretically in terms of the Global Political Agreement that clause expired this week. In terms of the GPA, by-elections held after that, the parties have to slug it out in the usual way. However, we ask ourselves whether we should not consider extending that clause for whatever period to consolidate cohesion without creating another form of contestation. We are talking about it. We are asking ourselves if we should take time off to campaign against each other,’’ he said.

“In the next few months we should be able to come up as negotiators with suitable recommendations to our principals on the matter.’’

MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said the GPA principals were debating whether to hold the by-elections or extend the one-year period.

Chamisa said the three parties did not want to disturb the economic revival programme achieved by the all-inclusive Government through creating conflicts in the by-elections.

“The issue of by-elections is a constitutional matter which we can’t run away from. I’m glad that the principals are discussing the matter in the context of how to deal with the matter,” said Chamisa.

He said it was also crucial for ZEC to be reconstituted and be an independent body that would conduct polls without a bias towards any political party.

“But ideally, people should choose their leadership, so by-elections will be held at one time,” said Chamisa.

Some of the vacant seats are Gokwe-Gumunyu following the death of Ephrem Mushoriwa (Zanu-PF), Matobo North vacated by Lovemore Moyo (Speaker – MDC), Guruve North, following the death of Cletus Mabaranga (Zanu-PF), Bindura North, after the death of Elliot Manyika (Zanu-PF), Emakhandeni- Entumbane, following the death of Cornelius Dube (MDC).

Three seats also fell vacant after the expulsion of Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East), all from the MDC.

Speaker of Parliament Moyo has said he has notified President Mugabe and ZEC about the vacant seats.

President Mugabe proclaims the election dates.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph