Parties Deadlocked On Election Timeframe: Tsvangirai

Tsvangirai said the adoption of the election roadmap has been hindered by a stalemate between parties to agree on the timeframes for the implementation of the roadmap ahead of fresh elections.

“The parties have agreed on all issues concerning the election roadmap but the only outstanding issue is on the timeframes for its implementation (the roadmap),” Tsvangirai said on Wednesday afternoon in an interview with Radio Vop.

The country’s premier, for example, singled out the deadlock between parties on the timeframe for the writing and subsequent adoption of the country’s constitution, saying Zanu (PF) is attempting to speed up the process to force elections this year.
He said this in an interview on the sidelines of re-election celebrations to the Parliament Speaker’s position for Lovemore Moyo, the MDC T chairman, that were held at his Brunapeg home area in Plumtree, Matabeleland South.
Tsvangirai said his party was in disagreement with Zanu (PF) saying his MDC -T party did not believe that it is possible to have a new constitution and elections this year.

“Zanu (PF) wants a fast process of writing and adopting a new consitution so that we can go for elections this year but what is the point in having a fast process that will be challenged after.
“It is better for us to take our time being thorough as we write this document.”It is not possible to hold elections in the next 12-16 months as besides writing an acceptable constitution, going for the referendum and so forth, we will need a new voters roll and delimitation exercise,” he added.

Zanu-PF has been pushing calls for elections this year with or without a new constitution to undo the unity government.However, the MDC has refused calls for fresh elections, saying it favours election roadmaps to guarantee a free and fair poll.