Mugabe on the ropes

Politics
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday flew to Singapore for a medical check-up, in the face of mounting court challenges on his decision to proclaim July 31 as the date for elections.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday flew to Singapore for a medical check-up, in the face of mounting court challenges on his decision to proclaim July 31 as the date for elections.

STAFF REPORTER

Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, said the President will be back at the weekend after undergoing a routine eye check-up.

“His Excellency the President Robert Mugabe today left Harare for Singapore,” he said. “He will meet his optometric for a scheduled routine eye check.”

Back home Mugabe’s lieutenants will remain fire-fighting, as the Constitutional Court (Concourt) will from today hear a record number of cases pertaining to the pending elections.

The first case to come before the court will be the urgent court case, where Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa will be submitting that elections be moved to August 14.

This was initially supposed to be a straight forward appeal, but Chinamasa distanced his party and Mugabe from the court action, in the latest twist in Zimbabwe’s path to elections.

In another case that is likely to have far reaching consequences, the Concourt will hear an application by a South Africa-based driver Tavengwa Bukaibenyu, who wants some sections of the Zimbabwe Electoral Act struck down, as they barred the Diaspora from voting by postal ballot.

The Concourt had initially suspended hearings into the matter, as it believed that Parliament was yet to debate the new Electoral Act. However, Mugabe unilaterally amended the Act, and it does not cater for foreign-based Zimbabweans, thereby triggering the court action.

Another case likely to trigger interest countrywide will be an appeal by Kissnot Mukwazhi of the Zimbabwe Democratic Party who wants the Justice ministry to provide his party with $1,5 million to enable it to participate in the forthcoming elections.

Funding for political parties is only provided to organisations that pass a certain parliamentary threshold. Only Zanu PF and the two MDCs have benefited to date.

Civil society activist Nixon Nyikadzino will also have his case heard, as he challenges Mugabe’s July 31 election date proclamation.

The court will hear an appeal by Bulawayo resident Maria Phiri – formerly an alien – who says the July 31 date for elections will not allow her and others like her enough time to acquire new documents and register as voters.

The Concourt directed Mugabe to ensure that elections are held by July 31, but this triggered a flurry of lawsuits, as politicians and activists said it was impractical to hold them then.

Mugabe unilaterally set July 31 as the date for elections, but Sadc urged him to return to the courts and seek a variation of the order.