Zim's top judge calls for violence-free vote
2013-01-14 15:10
Zimbabwean Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku delivers his speech during the opening of the 2013 High Court session in Harare. (AP)
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Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party is mulling over a special congress at which top vacant positions will be filled and the succession of President Robert Mugabe would be decided, according to a report.
Harare - Zimbabwe's top judge on Monday called for elections
slated for later this year to be violence-free, as ill-preparedness raised
fears of a repeat of previously bloody polls.
"We add our voice to those who are calling for free and
fair elections that are held in a violence-free atmosphere," chief justice
Godfrey Chidyausiku said.
The vote is expected to take place later this year and would
replace a shaky unity government lead by President Robert Mugabe and his
political foe Morgan Tsvangirai.
Elections in 2008 left at least 200 people dead and hundreds
of thousands of others sought refuge in neighbouring South Africa and overseas.
Chidyausiku expressed the hope that the courts will have
fewer election-related cases to handle this time around.
"Whilst the courts stand ready to hear cases relating
to the forthcoming elections, it is my fervent hope that litigation if any,
relating to the running of and the results emerging from the polls, will be
very little."
But there have been warnings that the legal framework for
the vote is not ready.
Human Rights Watch last week warned that the country is well
behind schedule with vital reforms needed to ensure a credible and
violence-free election.
The global rights body said repressive legislation had yet
to be struck off the books and the power-sharing government has drafted but not
passed a new constitution.
Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai have called for a peaceful vote.
No date has been fixed yet, but the constitution requires
that elections be held not later than four months after the end of a
presidential term.
Mugabe's mandate expires on 29 June and in theory, it means
the latest date polling can take place is 29 October.
- AFP
