Zimbabwe top court upholds July 31 election date

Elections to choose a new government in Zimbabwe will go ahead on July 31, the disputed date originally set by President Robert Mugabe, the country's top court ruled on Thursday. The court dismissed requests by both Mugabe and his nemesis Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who had sought to have the date postponed following pressure from regional leaders. "Elections should proceed on the 31st of July 2013 in terms of the proclamation by the president in compliance with the order of this court," chief justice Godfrey Chidyausiku ruled. The presidential vote will be held on the same day as parliamentary elections and will choose a government to replace an uncomfortable power-sharing deal between Mugabe and Tsvangirai. Mugabe had lodged an application to shift by two weeks the date that he had himself set, after regional bloc the Southern African Development Community (SADC) asked him to allow more time for preparations. Tsvangirai, who accuses Mugabe and his allies of failing to implement promised reforms ahead of the vote, had wanted an even longer extension to allow time for the overhauls, and lodged a separate petition. But "after perusing the papers, and hearing counsel in this matter, the court unanimously concludes that the applications should be and are hereby dismissed." Reasons for the judgement, which was reached after a day-long hearing, will be released at a later, still-unspecified date.