In a surprising twist of events, Zanu-PF is heading to court to challenge the nomination of 15 opposition CCC National Assembly candidates in Bulawayo. Their claim is that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) allowed these candidates to register after the 4 pm deadline on 21 June.
Zanu-PF is making the case that it was unlawful for ZEC to extend the sitting of the Nomination Court, granting special treatment to the CCC candidates who submitted their papers on 22 June.
One of the candidates facing deregistration and being prevented from running in the upcoming election is CCC’s deputy spokesperson, Gift Ostallos Siziba, who seeks the Pelandaba Tshabalala parliamentary seat.
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A letter written by Zanu-PF Treasurer General Patrick Chinamasa reveals that, according to the law, ZEC cannot accept nomination papers or payments after the deadline. Chinamasa insists on urgent prosecution to nullify the CCC candidates’ nominations, as their papers were submitted after the designated time, in violation of Section 46 (7) and (8) of the Electoral Act (chapter 2:13).
Chinamasa argues that the affected CCC candidates were not present in the Nomination Court with signed nomination papers and fees by the 4 pm deadline on June 21, which is a requirement by the electoral law.
He firmly maintains that ZEC had no legal authority to hold a nomination court on June 22 to receive and accept nomination papers from the mentioned CCC candidates.
Chinamasa acknowledged that the late submission by CCC candidates was attributed to the organizational issues of CCC, involving structures, constitutions, and banking accounts.
This development could deal another blow to the opposition party, given Zanu-PF’s already strong electoral position in the upcoming 2023 harmonized elections scheduled for 23 August.
Zanu-PF has already claimed victory in 53 local authority seats uncontested, as opposition parties failed to field candidates in some wards. In Bulawayo, the ruling party was the only one to submit nomination papers for the 10 provincial council seats.
Source iHarare
