[15th May 2008]

Presidential run-off deadline extended
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] today gazetted Statutory Instrument 73A/2008 making provision for the Presidential Run-off Election to be held within 90 days of the 2nd May [the day of the declaration of the Presidential Election results]. This SI invoked the powers given to ZEC by section 192 of the Electoral Act in order to extend the 21-day period for the run-off stipulated by section 110(3) of the Electoral Act. This means that the run-off must be on or before the 31st July 2008. Indications are that it will be held well before then.

By-Election Proclamation times extended
The same statutory instrument extends the period [to 25th June] within which the President must publish a proclamation calling the three pending House of Assembly by-elections [necessitated by deaths of candidates before the March 29th polls].

Presidential Run off Election and By-Elections to be concurrent
An explanatory note to the statutory instrument states that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission intends to hold the Presidential run-off election and the three by-elections on the same day. In the explanatory note ZEC says the by-elections will be on the earliest possible date permitted after their proclamation. If the proclamation calling the by-elections is gazetted tomorrow, 16th May, the earliest possible date for polling in the by-elections [and therefore the Presidential run-off as they are to be concurrent] would be Friday 27th June. The High Court has ordered the President to publish a proclamation calling the Pelandaba-Mpopoma by-election not later that 23rd May. The SI does not overrule this court order. It does therefore seem likely that the polling dates for the concurrent by-elections and Presidential run off election will be gazetted very soon.

Information supplied by Veritas