Nomination Courts sit for six outstanding National Assembly constituencies

Harare (New Ziana)-Nomination courts sat on Friday in Harare, Midlands, Manicaland and Bulawayo to register candidates for six outstanding National Assembly seats for the March 26 by- elections.

The sittings followed President Mnangagwa’s new proclamation that the Nomination Court would sit on Friday to register candidates for the six National Assembly by-elections following a court ruling setting aside an earlier judgement nullifying their declaration as vacant.

The six constituencies had been left out of the 28 constituencies which the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had scheduled to hold Nomination Courts on Wednesday, after it withdrew the notice of by-elections, saying they were being contested in the courts.

Constituencies where by-elections were cancelled include Harare East held by Tendai Biti, Mbizo held by Settlement Chikwinya, Kambuzuma occupied by Willas Madzimure, Mutasa South held by Regai Tsunga, Nkulumane held by Sichelesile Mahlangu and Pumula held by Kucaca Phulu.

The High Court had on Tuesday also set aside the proclamation by President Mnangagwa declaring vacancies in the six constituencies, ruling that the previous judgement nullifying the recall of the six legislators still stood despite the appeal by Benjamin Rukanda.

Rukanda last year appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court judgement that he did not have the authority to recall the six legislators, as he was not the secretary general of the People’s Democratic Party, to which they belonged before they crossed to the MDC Alliance.

Another High Court Judge however on Wednesday set aside the Tuesday ruling nullifying the existence of vacancies in the constituencies, and ordered ZEC to reopen the nomination process.

On Wednesday ZEC did not reopen the nomination process as the High Court had ordered, saying it wanted to seek legal advice on the way forward since it received the order after nomination courts had closed when the order was issued.

In an update on Friday, ZEC said the nomination process was progressing smoothly.

“Nomination Court for Harare Province of Kambuzuma and Harare East Constituencies opened at 1000 hrs this morning. First candidate walked in at 1020hrs to submit nomination papers.

“Midlands Nomination Court opened at 1000 hrs today for the Mbizo constituency. Four candidates have so far submitted their nomination papers

“Manicaland Nomination Court opened at 1000 hrs for the Mutasa South constituency and 4 candidates have so far submitted their nomination papers,” said ZEC.

In an interview after submitting nomination papers, Zanu PF candidate for Harare East constituency, Mavis Gumbo expressed confidence in winning the seat.

“Zanu PF will never fail. Gone are the days when the party would lose urban seats. The residents now know that the opposition does not deliver. I will be there for the people and represent their interests in Parliament,” she said.

New Ziana