{{Zimbabwe’s president officially announced Thursday that elections will go ahead next month despite opposition from the prime minister, setting the stage for a political standoff between the longtime rivals.}}<\/p>\n
In an official government notice Thursday, President Robert Mugabe said that he was empowered to set the presidential election for July 31.<\/p>\n
Legislative and local elections will also take place that day, and a presidential runoff will be held Sept. 11 if necessary, the notice said.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has strongly objected to holding elections next month, accusing Mugabe of choosing the date unilaterally and saying that he will not accept Mugabe’s decision.<\/p>\n
“I appeal to fellow Zimbabweans to remain calm and vigilant in the face of this provocation and illegality,” Tsvangirai said earlier Thursday before the notice was officially released. He said he had received a letter from Mugabe informing him of the decision.<\/p>\n
Mugabe was forced by regional leaders to form a coalition government with former opposition leader Tsvangirai after violent and disputed elections in 2008. The coalition agreement demands its leaders consult and agree on major policy decisions including a timeframe for fresh polls.<\/p>\n
The longtime president has said he is abiding by a court ruling calling for the vote to go ahead in July.<\/p>\n
Tsvangirai, though, claims the lawsuit was instigated by Mugabe’s loyalists eager for early polls so that they can take advantage of loopholes in the electoral laws to rig the vote.<\/p>\n
agencies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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