By-elections to go ahead on 9 December

Story by Peter Chivhima, Courts Reporter

THE High Court has dismissed an application by 14 CCC legislators who were contesting their recall from Parliament.

Dismissing the application filed by recalled CCC legislators, the High court noted that it is naive for the recalled legislators to approach the Court and claim that another member does not belong to their political outfit without the involvement of the political party itself.

In his judgment, Justice Munamato Mutevedzi noted that it was the onus of the aggrieved CCC legislators to prove that Sengezo Tshabangu is not a party member or its interim Secretary General.

The judgment delivered by the High court this Saturday clears the doubts on whether the nation will proceed with by-elections to fill the vacant posts.

The high court ruling means that aspiring candidates will go ahead and file nomination papers at their respective courts.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa proclaimed the 7th of November as the date for the Nomination Court to fill vacancies created by the recall of Citizens Coalition for Change legislators from Parliament while the by-election will be held on the 9th of next month.

The recalled CCC legislators claimed on Thursday last week that Tshabangu is not a member of the party and has no role to play in the internal processes of CCC.

However, Tshabangu challenged the recalled members to prove that he was not a party member through the constitution or any relevant documents.

Some of the constituencies which will hold by-elections include Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mabvuku-Tafara, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and Nketa.