SADC Summit outcome clarified: Political parties in the Global Political Agreement have clarified that the outcome of the SADC Summit in Maputo, Mozambique took into consideration the Constitutional Court ruling that elections must be held by the 31st of July though it recommended an appeal for an extension by two weeks. Although some sections of the local media have been awash with various stories about the outcome of the summit on Zimbabwe, political parties say the resolutions respected the Constitutional Court’s ruling. Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo said the revolutionary party went to the summit with two positions that it recognises and respects the Constitutional Court’s ruling to hold elections by the 31st of July and that the proclamation of the poll dates was in compliance with the decision of the courts. Cde Gumbo said no one can defy the Constitutional Court ruling, adding that what transpired in Maputo was in line with their expectations. MDC-T Secretary General, Tendai Biti said the recommendation to make an appeal for a further two week extension can be done by the three respondents to the Jealousy Mawarire case, who are President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube. President Mugabe is on record as saying that the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs will appeal to the court and whatever decision is taken by the court will be binding. Meanwhile, legal experts say the Maputo summit concurred with political parties, urging them to respect the finality of the highest court in the land. They said the summit resolutions were based on respect of the judicial system of Zimbabwe and the policy of non interference in domestic matters. Constitutional law expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku says although the SADC Heads of State and Government made recommendations to Zimbabwe, especially on the issue of seeking an extension, these were made while acknowledging that the court ruled that elections should be held by the set deadline. Professor Madhuku said the regional leaders were aware of the finality which was brought to the matter by the Constitutional Court though they made a provision for a two week extension. Another legal expert, Mr Godwills Masimirembwa said the issue of reforms being clamoured for by the MDC formations cannot be achieved in the two weeks. He said if the MDC formations failed to push for the implementation of reforms in five years, why would they think they can achieve it in a fortnight. The SADC Extraordinary Summit held in Mozambique over the weekend appealed to President Mugabe, through Justice and Legal Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, to approach the courts seeking a two-week extension to the July 31 deadline to implement any agreed reforms, saying whatever the court decreed was to be final.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:12:17 +0000
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