Zim govt defends run-off delay
15/05/2008 17:24  - (SA)  

Zim run-off delayed for 90 days SADC: Zim not set for fair vote MDC to prepare for run-off MDC: Regional observers enough

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Harare - The Zimbabwean government on Thursday defended a decision by the country's electoral commission to delay a second round presidential poll by more than two months, saying it was acting within the law.

"It is lawful and ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) has the authority to extend any period of an election in terms of the law and not what is being claimed by the MDC," Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the state-run Herald newspaper.

According to an extraordinary government gazette due to be published on Thursday, but read out to AFP by a source close to the printers, the period was "extended from 21 days to 90 days from the date of announcement of the results of the first poll."

The result of the first round was announced on May 2 and the new 90-day timeline means the run-off should take place on July 31 at the latest instead of May 23.

Election would be illegitimate

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) reacted with outrage to the delay saying it was clearly illegal and designed to help President Robert Mugabe cling to power.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who beat Mugabe in the first round, but fell short of an overall majority said last weekend that any election held after May 23 would be illegitimate.

Chinamasa said the ruling party was now eagerly awaiting the announcement of the actual date of the run-off election.

"Now that the period of the run-off has been extended, we are eagerly waiting for the election date which we think should come sooner rather than later," he was quoted as saying by the Herald.

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