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                 Top Zimbabwe Court Orders Elections by July 31

   by Reuters

   Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court ordered President Robert Mugabe on
   Friday to hold elections before the end of July, adding to a political
   controversy over the timing and funding of the vote in the southern
   African state.

   "The elections should take place no later than 31st July 2013," the
   court's Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku said.

   He was ruling on an application to the court by a Zimbabwean citizen
   demanding that Mugabe set an election date before the current
   parliament expires next month.

   Mugabe, 89, and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is to
   face long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai in the vote.

   Tsvangirai has been arguing that fresh elections after disputed polls
   in 2008, which led to the formation of a power-sharing government,
   should be delayed.

   He says this will allow for the opening up of broadcast media,
   registration of new voters and reform of the military to ensure it
   stays out of politics.

   A Zimbabwean rights activist, Jealousy Mawarire, filed a case with the
   Constitutional Court challenging Mugabe to set dates for presidential
   and parliamentary elections by June 29, arguing that the executive
   risked violating the constitution.

   Chief Justice Chidyausiku, whose ruling was supported by six other
   judges, said it was now legally impossible to hold elections by June
   29, but that Mugabe had violated Mawarire's rights as a voter by not
   proclaiming an election date so far.

   There was no immediate response from the presidency but lawyers say
   Mugabe could seek an extension on the July 31 date through the courts.

   Zimbabwe's finance minister, Tendai Biti, a senior member of
   Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has said the
   country is struggling to find $132 million needed to be able to hold
   the elections. Regional leaders have called a special summit to help
   Harare raise the money.

   Mugabe has been in power since leading the former Rhodesia to
   independence from Britain in 1980, and denies charges that he has used
   violence and rigged the last four major elections to retain office.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/top-zimbabwe-court-orders-elections-by-july-thirty-first/1672144.html