HARARE – The legal battle over exiled independent presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere‘s eligibility to contest in the upcoming harmonized elections continues as the Supreme Court sets the date for the hearing.
Kasukuwere is seeking to nullify a High Court ruling that blocked him from participating in the elections, which are scheduled for next month.
Initially, Kasukuwere opposed the urgent hearing of the case, but the situation changed when Lovedale Mangwana, a Zanu PF activist challenging Kasuku-were’s nomination, also filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing.
On Wednesday, Kasukuwere’s legal team informed the apex court that they are no longer opposed to the urgent hearing.
According to his lawyer, Method Ndlovu, “We took instructions from our client who requested that we consent to that order being sought; so, we agreed that the appeal will be heard on an urgent basis. That will be on the 27th of this month following the filing of papers by parties.”
Last week, Justice David Mangota overturned Kasukuwere’s nomination as one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 11 challengers.
The ruling was based on the argument put forth by Mangwana, stating that Kasuku-were’s absence from the country for an uninterrupted 18-month period rendered him unqualified to stand in any election under the country’s electoral law.
Challenging the High Court ruling, Kasukuwere filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to have the decision overturned.
The Supreme Court judges, Susan Mavangira, Chinembiri Bhunu, and George Chiweshe, have ordered both parties to submit their written arguments by July 26.
The outcome of the appeal will determine whether Kasukuwere will be allowed to participate in the upcoming elections or if his candidacy will remain blocked, adding further complexity to the political landscape in Zimbabwe.
