It was only last month in October that Mutambanengwes deputy, Joyce Kazembe (then acting chair), claimed they were ready to conduct national elections if the leadership in government asked them to do so. She was accused of playing to the gallery soon after Mugabe announced he wanted elections in the middle of 2011.
To appreciate the circus you would have to rewind back to August this year when Mutambanengwe first cast doubt on the ability of ZEC to conduct credible elections, due to inadequate funding, and the need to carry out reforms that included grappling with a voters roll that is a shambles. He has had to re-affirm the same position twice in order to counter his deputy.
Kazembes presence in the commission remains contentious. She was appointed by Mugabe to serve in the previous discredited election commission, headed by retired brigadier general George Chiweshe. The same commission withheld presidential election results for weeks in March 2008, amid reports the period was used to manipulate figures that denied Tsvangirai an outright victory against Mugabe.
This week Mutambanengwe, who has to work with Kazembe, seemed determined to counter her conflicting messages. He has pointed to the fact that the process of drafting a new constitution is far behind schedule and unlikely to be completed in time to have an election in 2011. Under the terms of the current power sharing deal a new constitution is supposed to precede the holding of new elections.
Some of the suggestions that we are going to have elections next year would seem to imply that the elections would be held without a new constitution. If that is the case we wait to be advised, Mutambanengwe said. Although the Finance Ministry has been tasked to allocate US$200 million for the poll, ZEC would only get that money in January next year after the budget has been presented, he added.
Post published in: News