WASHINGTON DC —
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s lawyers spent the second day Wednesday filing opposing papers ahead of a Constitutional Court hearing Thursday to determine the election date.
Lawyers representing Mr. Tsvangirai filed papers in the courts to counter arguments filed by the president’s lawyers Tuesday.
Mr. Mugabe’s lawyers argued that it was ironic that Mr. Tsvangirai was persisting with his papers challenging the election date yet he had already successfully filed papers to run for the presidency.
They also allege that Mr. Tsvangirai was following the dictates of Southern African Development Community not the court.
The lawyers were responding to an earlier challenge by Mr. Tsvangirai in which he wants Mr. Mugabe’s proclamation of an election date to be struck down and polls to be delayed to allow for further reforms.
The prime minister also alleges that Mr. Mugabe abused his presidential powers.
Mr. Mugabe’s lawyer, Terrence Hussein, said Mr. Mugabe does not want to be part of those calling for an extension of the election date.
But Mr. Tsvangirai’s lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said they still want the court to void Mr. Mugabe’s proclamation.
Lawyers representing Mr. Tsvangirai filed papers in the courts to counter arguments filed by the president’s lawyers Tuesday.
Mr. Mugabe’s lawyers argued that it was ironic that Mr. Tsvangirai was persisting with his papers challenging the election date yet he had already successfully filed papers to run for the presidency.
They also allege that Mr. Tsvangirai was following the dictates of Southern African Development Community not the court.
The lawyers were responding to an earlier challenge by Mr. Tsvangirai in which he wants Mr. Mugabe’s proclamation of an election date to be struck down and polls to be delayed to allow for further reforms.
The prime minister also alleges that Mr. Mugabe abused his presidential powers.
Mr. Mugabe’s lawyer, Terrence Hussein, said Mr. Mugabe does not want to be part of those calling for an extension of the election date.
But Mr. Tsvangirai’s lawyer, Lewis Uriri, said they still want the court to void Mr. Mugabe’s proclamation.