News

Mugabe 'to abide by poll date ruling'

ZIMBABWEAN president Robert Mugabe has said he will abide by a court ruling to hold elections before the end of July despite objections from his rivals.

Mr Mugabe told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation representatives travelling with him on a trip to Japan that he would convene polls "not later than July 31", state radio reported yesterday.

He said some members in a coalition with former opposition leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wanted to delay the elections "to enjoy being in power" for longer, the radio station said.

On Friday the Constitutional Court chided Mr Mugabe for not calling elections linked to the dissolution of the parliament at the end of its present five-year term on June 29.

Mr Tsvangirai said electoral and democratic reforms demanded under the coalition agreement could not be completed by July 31.

? PLEDGE: President Robert Mugabe has said there will be elections in Zimbabwe by July 31