Kasukuwere barred from contesting

Staff Reporter

The High Court has set aside Saviour Kasukuwere’s nomination as a Presidential candidate and ordered Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to exclude him on the presidential ballot paper.

Zanu PF supporter Lovedale Mangwana approached the court seeking an order to nullify the decision to accept Kasukuwere’s nomination papers by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Reading the operative part of the judgment, the judge Justice David Mangota highlighted that the decision of the nomination court was a violation of section 91 and a violation of the applicant’s rights.

Mangota ruled that Kasukuwere was out of the country for more than 18 months and therefore was nolonger a registered voter.

In his founding affidavit, Mangwana argued that the Electoral Act does not allow a candidate who has been out of the country for over 18 months to contest for president.

“I submit that the decision to accept the first respondent’s nomination paper is in breach of section 91 (1) (d) of the Constitution and invalid,” he argued.

Kasukuwere’s lawyer, Jacqueline Sande says the ex-minister’s camp will appeal the judgement.