IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRUST MUGABE??

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe did not mention an election date as he signed the country’s new constitution Wednesday but repeated his call for an end to violence and insisted that there would be no rigging of the vote. Zimbabwe is due to hold fresh elections this year with Mugabe and his Zanu PF party insisting the vote must immediately follow the end of Parliament on June 29 while Prime Minister Tsvangirai is pressing for a delay to allow more reforms. Party officials have, in recent days, suggested Mugabe would likely name an election date after the conclusion of the constitutional reform process but the Zanu PF leader only repeated calls for an end to violence as he signed the new charter in Harare. He said: “Zanu-PF versus MDC harisi game rezvibhakera. People make a choice. We are called upon to make choices all the time. You want this, you do not want this. You want this woman, ungandidawo? Ah, akasakuda yavamhosva. Ndarambirwei? Handizvo.

"We rejected this. We will ensure that there won't be any violence, that there won't be any rigging. We want now to build the nation and build a country. “Our yesterday was unfortunate. We will try to transform into a tomorrow which is much more enjoyable, much more uplifting and enabling our people to enjoy it.” Mugabe said working together in the coalition government which came into office after the violent 2008 vote had helped ease distrust between the country’s major political parties.

“Taimboti muroyi uyu (Tsvangirai), iye achitivo mudhara uyo anonzi anetwake twaakabata. Takazobvisana huroyi wani,” the veteran leader joked. “Zanu PF, yes; that is the jacket I am wearing. MDC, yes, that is the jacket and tie you (Tsvangirai) are wearing, but these jackets when we take them off, what are we then? You are truly the son of some Buhera family. Zvimba, yes, and he (Mutambara) Chimanimani.

“We remain Zimbabweans all of us. That is the realisation emphasised by this document (new Constitution).” Meanwhile political commentator, Ibbo Mandaza, said new elections were unlikely this year. “The first time line was June and a number of people have been pushing for a June election but that is now definitely out of the question,” Mandaza said in an interview with BBC Africa. “I don’t see it (elections happening) in July either because if there is a run-off vote it would coincide with the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism congress in Vic Falls) which is in August. “I don’t see it in September either because Mugabe will attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Maybe October; but I doubt that; I don’t think there will be elections this year.