SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
The future of Zimbabwean diplomats from the MDC, who were stationed around the world by the coalition government, hangs in the balance following last week’s disputed election victory by Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF. A total of five ambassadors from the MDC formations were selected back in 2008, when the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed and the opposition became part of government for the first time in Zimbabwe. Four are from Morgan Tsvangirai’s party and one is from Welshman Ncube’s MDC. The future for all five diplomats now rests on the MDC-T’s legal challenge to Mugabe’s claim of a landslide victory in the harmonized elections. Tsvangirai has called the poll “a farce” and his party is preparing a constitutional court challenge, accusing Mugabe of rigging. Under the new Constitution, Mugabe must be sworn in by the ninth day after declaration of results by ZEC, which falls on Heroes’ Day, 12th August. But if the MDC-T file a petition challenging the results as planned, Mugabe will only continue as president-elect, pending the Constitutional Court’s decision. The court is required to make a decision within 14 days. If Mugabe is confirmed as the winner of the election, he must then be sworn in as President within 48 hours of the court’s ruling. But if the MDC-T challenge is upheld, a fresh election must be conducted within 60 days. Mugabe and Tsvangirai, along with other members of the inclusive government, would then continue in their posts until the results of the fresh election are announced and a new president is sworn in. MDC-T diplomats currently stationed abroad are Mabed Ngulani in Nigeria, Hilda Fuka in Sudan, Jacqueline Zvambi in Australia and Herbson Makuvise in Germany. Trudy Stevenson from the MDC-N is in Senegal. Few are expecting a court, comprising judges appointed by Mugabe, to rule in the MDC’s favour.↧