Zimbabwe’s main opposition party described a decision on Friday by President Robert Mugabe to call general elections for March 29 an “act of madness”, but stopped short of calling for a boycott.
“It’s an act of madness and arrogance,” Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said.
Chamisa said the announcement was a slap in the face to regional efforts, led by South African President Thabo Mbeki, to mediate between the MDC and Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party on the framework for the joint parliamentary and presidential polls.
“Mugabe has slapped SADC’s [Southern African Development Community] commitment and President Thabo Mbeki’s efforts to try and amicably solve the crisis,” said Chamisa.
“Mugabe has jumped the gun. As for the MDC, I cannot pre-empt our position whether we will participate or not as the national executive meets within a week or so to make a decision.”
Mugabe announced on Friday that the troubled Southern African country will stage a general election on March 29 when he will seek a sixth term in office.
A statement in the name of Mugabe, posted in a Government Gazette, said the elections would be held the day after the Parliament in Harare is dissolved.
“Now therefore under and by virtue of the powers vested in the president as aforesaid, I do by this proclamation dissolve Parliament with effect from midnight the 28 March 2008… [and] fix Saturday March 29 as the day of the election,” Mugabe said.
The 83-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980, was confirmed as the Zanu-PF’s candidate at a party conference held in Harare last month.
The joint parliamentary and presidential election will be held against a backdrop of an economic meltdown with the annual rate of inflation officially put at nearly 8 000%. Economists believe the figure is closer to 50 000%. — AFP