UZA appeals against nomination court rejection

United Zimbabwe Alliance has filed appeals for six of its candidates for parliament whose nomination papers were rejected as a result of failure to submit satisfactory proofs of payment of nomination fees even though the fees had been paid through RTGS. 

In an exclusive interview with Community Podium, party president, Elisabeth Valerio whose own bid to file presidential nomination papers also hit a snag when her proof of payment was rejected on nomination day, argued that the UZA candidates complied with the law and should have been duly nominated.

“We believe that our candidates substantially complied with the law and were entitled to be duly nominated as candidates. Tomorrow our lawyers will file appeals in Mutare and Chinhoyi for the remaining candidates whose papers were rejected in Manicaland and Mashonaland West respectively. We are confident that the Electoral Court will reverse the decisions of the presiding officers,” she said.

The UZA parliamentary hopefuls, Marvelous Muyezi, Takwana Mavhurere, Lyton Magwezi, Lovemore Magwaya filed their papers at the Bulawayo Electoral Court, while Casper Muzhona and Denias Bako filed theirs at the Harare Electoral Court.

Turning to her own case, Valerio said her bank stamped proof of payment was deemed insufficient on nomination day.

“They said they needed funds reflecting in their account. The bank stamped proof of payment was not sufficient proof of payment so they needed to receive $20,000 USD cash by midnight. My application and paperwork were approved. It was just the POP that was rejected.

ZEC has since confirmed that they did receive the payment, however they say they cannot override the decision of the nomination courts. So my only recourse was to appeal,” she said.

Valerio added: “The same happened to many of our MP candidates since the proof of payment was from the same source. A few of our MPs had bank card issues. ZEC’s bank card systems were not working. This disadvantaged some of our candidates as they were rejected.”

ZEC has so far announced an all-male list of eleven presidential candidates but the UZA leader is still optimistic about her chances of breaking into the list. 

“We have been campaigning for 24 months. Our members are so unhappy. Especially seeing all male candidates and my candidacy rejected. However I am still hopeful and determined,” she said.

On 23 June, the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights filed 2 notices of appeal at the Electoral Court appealing against the decision of the Nomination Court to block Valerio and Linda Masarira of LEAD for election to the office of President in general elections scheduled for 23 August. 

“We want the Electoral Court to set aside the decision of the Presiding Officer of the Nomination Court, who rejected the nomination of the 2 opposition political party leaders’ nomination as candidates for election to the office of president We also want the Electoral Court to declare the duo as having been validly nominated as candidates for election to the office of president,” said the ZLHR.

Determination on the appeal is expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

Last month, the Judicial Service Commission appointed 35 High Court judges to be Judges of the Electoral Court Division who hear electoral petitions and arbitrate in electoral disputes.