Mugabe’s vote timetable plans not feasible: opposition

Zimbabwe’s main opposition the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Thursday said President Robert Mugabe’s planned timetable for a constitutional referendum and elections was not realistic.

In a High Court filing seen on Thursday, Mugabe proposed a referendum for the first week of November and presidential and legislative polls for March next year.

“The dates being proposed are clearly not feasible,” MDC spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told AFP.

“The date for the election, especially, is unilateral, unrealistic and has no scientific or legal basis.”

Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party has objected to many aspects of the long-delayed draft constitution that was only finished in July and would rein in presidential powers.

Mwonzora added his party was more concerned about conditions under which the vote takes place rather than the date. “For us to meet those dates, ZANU-PF has to change drastically.”

“We want elections to be held in conditions which allow the secrecy of the vote and the security of both the vote and the voter,” said Mwonzora.

Opposition MDC party members were on the receiving end of the violence that characterised the 2008 elections.