ZIMBABWE cannot hold elections to fill electoral vacancies because it has no money, President Robert Mugabe says in an affidavit filed at the Bulawayo High Court.

The country needs US$38,3 million to fill 11 House of Assembly seats, seven Senate seats and 50 local authority vacancies, Mugabe said while responding to an application by three former MDC MPs who were expelled by their party in July last year, and who are now seeking to compel him to set a date for by-elections in their former constituencies.

Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East) are not special cases, Mugabe said, as there were many other electoral vacancies and overdue by-elections.

In an affidavit filed on his behalf by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Mugabe said: “... it is to be borne in mind that ... there are many vacancies which occurred prior to the occurrence of vacancies in the three constituents which are the subject matter of the application.

“It is, therefore, quite clear that by-elections cannot be held only in respect of vacancies in the three House of Assembly constituencies sought by applicants but simultaneously in respect of all the House of Assembly, Senatorial and local authority vacancies.”

Mugabe added: “Sanctions imposed against the country and which are still continuing, have wreaked havoc on the economy of the country and the government finds itself in a situation where it has very little fiscal space.

“For this reason, and this reason alone, it has not been possible to hold by-elections to give effect to the constitution and our electoral laws.

“As soon as I am informed by the Minister of Finance (Tendai Biti) that resources have been secured and are available for the purposes of holding elections, I will have no hesitation in ensuring that by-elections are conducted expeditiously in all the constituencies and wards in which vacancies have occurred.”

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and its chairman Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe, cited as respondents along with Mugabe by the three former MPs, have already filed their opposition, stating they were incorrectly cited as only the President can order elections.