Zimbabwe requires more than 280 days to fully consummate processes that would lead to a free and fair election whose outcome is not likely to be contested, it has emerged.
The timeline comes as Zanu-PF, led by President Robert Mugabe, continues with its push to have presidential and general elections held this year.
The two MDC formations, led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube respectively, have thrown out the bid for the 2011 elections on the basis that there are still a lot of things that need to be attended to before the ground is cleared for a proper, free and fair election.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has also reiterated that Zimbabwe is not yet ready to hold free and fair elections, throwing a lobby by Zanu-PF into disarray.
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora told a media conference this week that Zimbabwe's preparedness was still far behind the mark, hence there should be no talk of elections this year.
He revealed that according to the timelines that had been agreed to by the negotiators, more than 280 days would be sufficient to lay the ground for a proper election.
"There should be electoral amendments, which were agreed to by the principals, that should be enacted within 45 days from July 5, 2011.
"After these, there must be voter education and mobilisation exercises within a further 30 days. When that process is completed, there must be a voter registration process which must be done within 60 days before a new voters' roll is prepared, also within 60 days," Mwonzora revealed.
The roadmap under discussion by the three parties' negotiators leaves Registrar-General Tobaiwa Mudede with egg on his face after he claimed Zimbabwe had a perfect voters' roll which could be used for the anticipated elections.
It is now agreed, according to Mwonzora, that Zimbabwe needs a new voter's roll.
The Zanu-PF politburo argued the old voters' roll would be used in the forthcoming election as there was no need to prepare a new one given that "it was in a perfect condition".
A recent survey by a South African institute revealed that there were about 41000 octogenarians on the voters' roll used during the 2008 general elections and presidential run-off - a development described by the MDC as one of Zanu-PF's plots to rig the elections.
Mwonzora disclosed that negotiators from the three parties had also agreed that after the voters' roll has been compiled, voters would be allowed to inspect it and cross-check the correctness of their details within a period of 60 days.
"After the inspection of the new voter s' roll and the corrections thereof, the state (through the Registrar General's Office) would be allowed 45 days in which it shall ensure that the voter's roll is sorted out, with all mistakes cleared. A new voter's roll should be produced after the 45-day period .
"Looking at these alone, you will realise the clamour for elections this year by Zanu-PF is misplaced and a misreading of the roadmap itself. It is clear that one needs more than 280 days to ensure that all these things are done," he said.
Mwonzora said these provisions were based on the hope that the country manages to conclude the constitution-making process now under way.