THE High Court has nullified the nomination of recalled Citizens Coalition for Change members as candidates for the December 9 by-elections.
In a ruling delivered this Thursday, High Court judge, Honourable Never Katiyo ruled that the decision of the Nomination Court sitting at Harare. Bulawayo, Gwanda, Lupane and/ or another location around the country on 7 November 2023 to accept the nomination papers and candidature of 1st to 22nd respondents for election in the by-elections set to be conducted on 9 December 2023 is unlawful, of no force and effect and hereby set aside.
“That 1st to 22nd respondents are not candidates for election in the by-elections scheduled to be conducted on 9 December 2023,” he added.
He also said the 23rd and 24th respondents in the matter, referring to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Citizens Coalition for Change party respectively, shall not include the names of 1st to 22nd respondents in the preparation of ballot papers to be used in the by- elections scheduled to be conducted on 9 December 2023.
“That the 1st to 22nd respondents are interdicted from representing or holding themselves out to the general public and electorate in the constituencies concerned or any other place in Zimbabwe, whether physically or through any form of media, as candidates for election in by-elections scheduled to be held on 9 December 2023. 1st to 22nd, and 25th respondents shall jointly and severally pay the applicants’ cost on the ordinary scale.”
The development means that all recalled candidates will not be allowed to contest the 9 December by-elections, after CCC interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu successfully fled a legal challenge.
