HARARE, Zimbabwe – Former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who has been in exile, has recently filed an application seeking the cancellation of his warrant of arrest.
This move aims to enable him to contest in the upcoming Zimbabwe presidential race scheduled for August 23.
The warrant of arrest against Kasukuwere was issued on January 17, 2019, by retired Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya.
The warrant stemmed from Kasukuwere’s failure to appear for trial on four counts of criminal abuse of office during his tenure as a minister in the late President Robert Mugabe‘s administration.
However, in early 2020, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) attempted to extradite Kasukuwere from South Africa but faced obstacles as Interpol declared the matter to be political, leading to the failure of the extradition process.
Kasukuwere has publicly expressed his intention to challenge for the presidency, and his application to cancel the arrest warrant is a crucial step toward realizing his aspirations.
In the recently filed application, submitted on June 2 through his legal representatives, Mhishi and Nkomo Legal Practitioners, Kasukuwere argues that the warrant of arrest was issued in error.
According to his lawyers, Kasukuwere appeared before Magistrate Mujaya on November 29, 2018, to respond to the charges of criminal abuse of duty.
During the hearing, Kasukuwere objected to the charges, asserting that they lacked essential elements of the offence.
Mujaya, however, dismissed Kasukuwere’s application, prompting the former minister to seek a review of Mujaya’s decision in the High Court.
Saviour Kasukuwere lifeline
The High Court subsequently ruled in Kasukuwere’s favour and ordered the cancellation of the arrest warrant issued by Magistrate Mujaya.
Kasukuwere’s legal team, in their submission, emphasized that the warrant of arrest had been rendered void by the High Court’s judgment.
They further argued that it would serve no purpose for the warrant to remain in force, asserting, “It is accordingly submitted that the applicant (Kasukuwere) has managed to show on a balance of probabilities that the warrant of arrest should be cancelled.”
Saviour Kasukuwere played a prominent role in the Generation40 (G40) faction during the era of President Mugabe, making him a significant figure in Zimbabwean politics.
As the application to cancel the arrest warrant progresses, Kasukuwere’s potential candidacy in the presidential race continues to garner attention.
The outcome of this legal process will have implications for the political landscape and the forthcoming elections, shaping the possibilities and dynamics of the race for the presidency.
