On the Definition of “Urgent”…
I get the distinct impression that Judge Tendai Uchena is waiting for someone else to solve his problem. As the unfortunate soul who ended up handling the MDC’s petition for an order forcing ZEC to release the Presidential election results, you can almost picture him looking around desperately for a way to avoid having to give the order, aware that Zanu-PF will be metaphorically looking over his shoulder in a rather menacing way. After hearing arguments yesterday, he reiterated his decision to treat the case urgently and declared…
“I am of the view that I exert myself to study the submissions, I should be ready with a judgement on Monday.”
That’s 8 days after this “urgent” petition was first brought, and 16 days after Zimbabweans voted. It’s probably no coincidence, though, that SADC are meeting to discuss Zimbabwe on Saturday – and Uchena may be hoping he’ll be saved the trouble of making a ruling if there’s suitably severe criticism of Mugabe at that event. Levy Mwanawasa has already been critical of Mugabe, comparing Zimbabwe to the Titanic in the past, but of the SADC’s other members, we don’t know who’ll say what. Jacob Zuma may be critical, but he doesn’t yet represent the South African government; other SADC leaders still seem to be in the RG Mugabe Fan Club.
All this is taking time, time that – if the collected news reports from Zim are anything to go on – Zanu-PF are using to quietly beat enough opposition support into acquiescence to give themselves a chance of winning the still-hypothetical second round vote.
There’s still some optimism on the ground, though – Zimbabwe Today reports one persistent rumour that’s doing the Harare rounds:
I want to mention one other rumour that persists here in Harare. This says that, despite the military involvement in the countrywide violence, as revealed in the 200-strong list, see above, the top army brass are actually pursuing another agenda entirely.
It is thought that a group of heavyweight military commanders and politburo chiefs, led by the brooding figure of retired general Solomon Mujuru, have presented to Mugabe a plan for a temporary sharing of power in Zimbabwe, under a government of national unity.
The plan would entail Mugabe remaining president for six months, with Tsvangirai as vice president and Simba Makoni, the Zanu-PF rebel candidate, as prime minister. Eventually Tsvangirai would take over the top job, with Mugabe moving into graceful retirement.
If MDC truly believe they’ve won the vote outright, though – and I still believe they have – I can’t really see them settling for second place…
10. April, 2008 at 14:23
With only a few weeks to campaign amid suspicion from the electorate and media black out from the sitting government Simba Makoni emerges the deciding factor in this election. The unofficial result puts up his share of the poll at 8% and paltry as it seem has prevented either of the quarrelling contenders from having an outright win.
Speculation has been rife on who he is going to back in the run off and there are earlier indications of a loose pact with MDC. History and recent turn of events have proved that the person of Morgan Tsvangirai will never be the President of Zimbabwe partly due the levels of antagonism with Mugabe and partly due his own indiscretions. It is very risky for Simba to support Morgan Tsvangirai because he will as well write his political obituary prematurely.
Zimbabwe needs a rerun as opposed to a run off. A run off will not present any quality that will take us into the future. A technicality is in Simba Makoni’s favour in election results were supposed to be announced within six days of polling and if warranted a run off within 21 days. Meaning to say if we reach 28 days from polling day without any run off having occurred, Simba Makoni has some exciting options
He can approach the constitutional court and have the poll set aside demand for a rerun of the election. He can also sue ZEC and its officials joint and severally for damages emanating from expenses incurred in campaigning for an election that ZEC has failed to produce results in required time.
This will give him a new lease of life as they would be realignment of voters in the next poll coming from people realizing they cannot mortgage their future on Morgan’s abortive ambition, people aligned to Zanu Pf will have an option which they would have in a run off.
The ball is in Simba Makoni’s court. To resuscitate his bid and he will get the desired mileage on the court case as well, and establish his bid firmly