“Following lengthy deliberation, it was agreed that Tsvangirai, by virtue of being the head of line ministries, should preside over all electoral structures and processes. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will report directly to him and so will the other organs that directly and indirectly deal with elections. Tsvangirai was instrumental in persuading his counterparts (Welshman Ncube and President Robert Mugabe) to make a definite decision regarding the draft constitution,” said one source.
The development has been welcomed by all concerned, but one political analyst, who declined to be named, sounded a note of caution, saying Tsvangirai had been handed a “poisoned chalice”.
“The PM is not in control of the electoral processes. The Registrar General’s office, which is key to the whole exercise, does not report to him and will not take instructions from him. The ZEC secretary is full of military and CIO personnel who are Zanu (PF) activists. This is a sinister move – the PM has no real authority to change anything and any problems can now be blamed directly on his office,” said the analyst.
After its adoption by the principals in January, the draft (which has taken three years) sailed through Parliament and a referendum has been set for March 16, with the major parties readily concurring to promote a “Yes” vote.
Since January, the political leaders have demonstrated unusual readiness to move in one direction, with Mugabe and Tsvangirai repeatedly calling for peace ahead of elections expected to be held in the second half of the year.
On Monday, Tsvangirai called a press conference to announce that the principals had moved speedily to appoint a new ZEC boss following the resignation of Simpson Mtambanengwe, who remains on the Namibian bench.
The PM also made numerous announcements relating to elections, among them the need to institute necessary reforms. He called for the implementation of media reforms before the holding of elections. He has met with the underfunded ZEC to assess its readiness for elections.
MDC-T national spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, said the PM had also been appointed the principal’ spokesperson on matters relating to elections.
“This is a positive development. The principals are cordial in their engagement with each other and we hope the Prime Minister’s new role will move Zimbabwe in a positive direction. So far, there is no resistance from any quarter and we pray things will remain like that,” he said.
Rugare Gumbo, the Zanu (PF) national spokesperson, hailed Tsvangirai’s mandate as the head of the electoral process. “We are in an inclusive government and it was a good thing to give that role to Tsvangirai. As Zanu (PF), we saw it fit that the Prime Minister should lead the electoral process. It was a wise decision because we don’t want to keep on being accused of being biased by the so-called international community,” Gumbo told The Zimbabwean.
Post published in: News
Is it constitutional for the PM to head the electoral body? .Moreover he is an interested party in this contest. I am afraid he has been given a rope to hang himself if not careful.