HARARE - For once Zimbabweans should be told the truth about the election dates because President Robert Mugabe is not being sincere when he declares that elections would be held next month.

And the clock is ticking; next month is not far at all and we wait to see if Mugabe will hold to his word.
What is surprising is that Mugabe appears so confident that Zimbabwe will hold these elections, come what may.

As reported in this paper, there are many processes that have to be concluded before Zimbabwe can hold elections which are consistent with democratic polls.

We are left to wonder why the Zanu PF leader would like to go against these and push the country towards holding sham elections which at worst would be an assault on the mediation efforts of Sadc and the African Union.

Since the consummation of the inclusive government, civic groups and the other two parties — MDC formations — have ben consistent in calling for reforms that lead towards a credible poll.

There is no time  for Zimbabwe to hold elections on June 29 unless Mugabe does not care about what the whole world think of him.

Firstly, there is no money for elections and as if that is not enough, Mugabe and his close officials have closed all doors for donors to fund the elections, including the UN.

Secondly, Mugabe’s Zanu PF and the MDC have both not held primary elections that can actually pave the way for the harmonised elections.

The primary elections will not just take a day to complete and Mugabe is not sincere to say his party will hold primary elections and have the chosen candidates’ campaign before his June 29 date.

Mugabe wants to force an election without adequate preparations and even no funding so that the MDC can boycott the elections, hence create another sham election.

His utterances at the Zanu PF Central Committee meeting on Saturday are a betrayal to the comrades within Sadc who have stood with him.

Surely Mr President is a lot wiser and cannot make such rash statements without weighing their ramifications.

As Parliament meets tomorrow to consider the constitutional draft, it is our hope that everyone concerned will see the importance of ushering in a new constitution whose objectives are to build a strong democratic State.

We can only stride towards that by showing the political will to change the current course and hold elections that are fair and credible in the eyes of the world. - Staff Writer