JOHANNESBURG – Saviour Kasukuwere, one of Zimbabwe’s presidential hopefuls, has levelled serious allegations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of manipulating the country’s courts to prevent him from running for the presidency in the upcoming August national elections.
Kasukuwere, a former member of the ruling Zanu-PF party, claims that President Mnangagwa was behind the Zimbabwean high court’s decision that barred him from contesting in the elections.
In response, Kasukuwere has taken the matter to the supreme court, challenging the high court’s ruling.
During a media briefing on Friday, the determined presidential candidate asserted that he would not be discouraged by what he perceives as the Zimbabwean state’s capture by certain interests.
He remains steadfast in his pursuit of the presidency despite the legal hurdles.
The contention arose when Zanu PF challenged Saviour Kasukuwere’s candidature, alleging that he had been out of the country for a continuous 18-month period, rendering him ineligible to run for office.
The high court ruled in favour of the ruling party, supporting their stance.
Kasukuwere, however, believes that this ruling is part of a larger strategy orchestrated by President Mnangagwa to prevent him from participating in the upcoming polls.
He expressed his concerns, stating, “You don’t use the laws of the country. You don’t weaponize institutions to only satisfy your narrow parochial interests.”
The defiant presidential hopeful maintains that, since filing papers with Zimbabwe’s supreme court to challenge the high court’s decision, he remains a valid and lawfully nominated candidate for the presidency.
He points out that the move by Mnangagwa is a tactic aimed at suppressing opposition and limiting democratic participation.
“We are aware of why Mnangagwa has to resort to these kinds of tactics,” Kasukuwere added, hinting at alleged attempts to stifle dissent and limit the pool of candidates.
As the Zimbabwean elections draw near, scheduled for next month, the supreme court is yet to provide a date for the hearing of the case.
The delay has left both Kasukuwere and his supporters anxiously awaiting the court’s decision on his candidacy.
Despite the challenges and legal obstacles, Saviour Kasukuwere remains resolute in his pursuit of the presidency, vowing to fight for his right to stand as a candidate in the upcoming crucial elections.
The situation has drawn attention to the state of Zimbabwe’s democratic processes and the concerns raised by opposition figures regarding the independence of the country’s institutions in the run-up to the polls.
