Kasukuwere barred from contesting in elections

Harare (New Ziana) – Former cabinet minister and independent presidential aspirant in next month’s elections, Saviour Kasukuwere, had his candidacy in the poll nullified by the High Court on Wednesday on grounds it violated the constitution.

Justice David Mangota ruled that Kasukuwere’s candidacy in the August 23 elections contravened sections of the constitution which required that an electoral aspirant must have been resident in the country and constituency where he/she is registered for 18 months prior to the election.

Kasukuwere has been in self-imposed exile from the country for more than the stipulated period.

He is one of 10 presidential candidates who registered to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa in next month’s vote.

The court challenge of his suitability to run in the polls was made by lawyer Lovedale Mangwana, who cited sections of the constitution which barred people from contesting in elections if they lived outside the country for more than 18 months before the elections.

Kasukuwere, who fell out from the ruling ZANU-PF party five years ago, had been billed by the opposition as a potential vote splitter for President Mnamgagwa in the election.

But the court agreed with Mangwana that the politician’s registration to run as a presidential candidate in the upcoming poll was irregular, and quashed it.

“The 1st respondent has not been resident in any constituency in the Republic of Zimbabwe for a period in excess of 18 consecutive months and his name cannot, by that circumstance, be retained on the voter’s roll,” Mangwana had argued.

Justice Mangota also dismissed Kasukuwere’s argument that the case was beyond the jurisdiction of the High Court, and that Mangwana had no locus standi.

The politician is reportedly mulling to appeal the judgement.

New Ziana