Communist party reacts to Zimbabwe poll delay plans

from SAVIOUS KWINIKA in Johannesburg, South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE Zimbabwe Communist Party (ZCP) has expressed mixed feelings over plans to postpone the general elections.

ZCP, which is South African-based, said although there might be some valid reasons behind not holding the elections in 2018, to delay them for three years would be a violation of the Constitution voted for by the majority in 2013.

“Any delay past the end of 2018, in the opinion of the ZCP, becomes a violation not only of the letter of the

Constitution but also its spirit,” party’s General Secretary Ngqabutho Mabhena said on Thursday.

Mabhena and Ian Beddowes, the National Commissar of Zimbabwe Communist Party announced in a statement saying nonetheless, given the new dispensation in the country and the shortage of government funds, there might be some validity in delaying the elections under current conditions.

If the harmonised elections scheduled for 2018 were to be delayed, before the tabling of the postponement, the Zimbabwean government should, in the next few days commit itself to address access to state media by all political parties, scrapping legislation that banned political parties from receiving external funding and commitment of ending political violence.

The party called for authorities to demilitarize the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and partisan distribution of aid.

ZCP argued the proposed delays might emanate from internal problems of the ruling ZANU (PF) and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) coalition.

According to the party, the delays might be a ploy by MDC-T to resolve its internal succession question given the ill health of its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

ZANU (PF) reportedly needs time to resolve new internal challenges emerging in the allocation of parliamentary seats between the civilian leadership, the war veterans and the military.

– CAJ News