HARARE Zimbabwes labour body has called for fresh elections to choose the countrys next leader, citing lack of progress in the 15-month old coalition government of President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara.The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that sired the MDC party said the government of national unity (GNU) has since inception in February last year been embroiled in disputes which are stalling progress.
The GNU has been characterised by impasses, name calling and mistrust among the political parties while the majority of Zimbabweans continue to suffer, ZCTU acting secretary general Japhet Moyo said in a statement.
The labour body which has accused the MDC of selling out on the people by agreeing to have Parliament instead of citizens leading the writing of a new governance charter for the country, said the ZCTU general council was proposing that Parliament enacts Constitutional Amendment 20 which would address the issue of the elections.
The elections (shall) be presidential elections only. Local authorities, Senate and Parliament should not be affected since there were no contestations for the same. The presidential elections be monitored by Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union and the international community, the labour said in a statement last Thursday.
But Information Minister Webster Shamu dismissed calls for new elections, insisting the unity government was working well and that there was no stalemate between coalition partners. He said: I do not think I need to waste time responding to that wishful thinking. There has been major strides since this government led by President Mugabe came into being.
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