AllAfrica.com is reporting that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has ordered general elections to be held on July 31, 2013, but his political rival Morgan Tsvangirai has described the move as “a unilateral and flagrant breach of the constitution” and will not agree to it.
Victor Chipato reports:
“According to Zimbabwe’s Newsday, The President “circumvented Parliament and gazetted Statutory Instrument 85 of 2013 to proclaim the election date” and set an election date without consulting with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.”
In addition to Mr. Tsvangirai describing the move as “a unilateral and flagrant breach of the constitution,” he “described the latest development in the country’s politics as ‘disrespectful of the efforts by SADC leaders’, and says he will approach the courts to overturn Mugabe’s proclamation.”
Earlier this month, President Mugabe agreed to abide by a Zimbabwean constitutional court ruling that elections should be held by the end of July, so Newsday and Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s position is spurring controversy.
This story is developing…
Read more at The Burton Wire and AllAfrica.com.
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