Mugabe now has up to 1st October to announce dates for the by-elections.
Judge President George Chiweshe granted the application after Mugabe had sought the exten¬sion of the deadline, following a Supreme Court order giv¬ing him up to Thursday to publish a notice ordering by-elections to fill three parliamentary posts in Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East constituencies. The posts became vacant when three legislators were expelled from Professor Welshman’s Ncube’s MDC.
Advocate Ray Goba, who repre¬sented Mugabe, said he had met with Beat¬rice Mtetwa who is acting for the former legislators of the three constituencies, and that she said they had no problem with the deadline being extended by one month.
Mugabe’s advocate said that apart from the 3 vacant seats there are a 28
par¬liamentary vacant seats and 164 local authority vacant seats.
Justice Minister Chinamasa said that conduct¬ing the by-elections in 28 parliamen¬tary constituencies, as well as in 164 local authorities, was like having a mini-general election.
Mugabe had argued that he needed the deadline delay to find the financial resources for this. SW Radio Africa
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