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Chamisa wants Khupe row resolved urgently
04 May 2018 at 08:00hrs | Views
The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC camp has filed a Supreme Court application seeking to have its appeal contesting a High Court verdict which gave leeway to a rival camp led by Thokozani Khupe to use the party name and symbols to be heard on an urgent basis.
In the application, MDC, which is represented by Thabani Mpofu, is the applicant, while Khupe, Obert Gutu and Abednico Bhebhe, are cited as respondents.
According to MDC national chairperson Morgen Komichi's affidavit, the matter needs to be heard on an urgent basis as time is running out before the holding of the next elections.
"The 2018 general elections are imminent and the use by the respondents of applicant's name and symbol(s) was always going to be prejudicial to both applicant and the general conduct of the elections.
"Put differently, the question could not await determination on the ordinary roll otherwise any relief that would be availed at a later stage would be hollow," Komichi said.
The appeal comes after Bulawayo High Court judge Francis Bere referred the case for arbitration, following preliminary points raised by Khupe and company.
He said the court erred in making pronouncements on substantive issues which were not before it and which parties had not advanced an argument.
"The court a quo seriously misdirected itself, such misdirection amounting to an error in law, in finding at any rate that the matter before it was not urgent and so erred in failing to consider the applicable principle of time and consequence, the application of which entitled appellant to the indulgence of an expedited hearing."
Komichi said the issues raised have a serious impact on harmonised elections and should not be allowed to affect their credibility and fairness.
"That the matter must be heard on an urgent basis is beyond any doubt and the following considerations may need to be taken into account: the failed application was brought on an urgent basis and notwithstanding the finding of the court on the issue of urgency, applicant points to the misdirection in that finding as well as the acceptance by his lordship that there is an urgent dispute which requires resolution.
"The dispute should be resolved before the nomination court sits and without a doubt before the elections are conducted.
"It is vitally important to both parties that it particularly be resolved before the nomination courts sits," the court heard.
Khupe and her camp have not yet responded to the application.
In the application, MDC, which is represented by Thabani Mpofu, is the applicant, while Khupe, Obert Gutu and Abednico Bhebhe, are cited as respondents.
According to MDC national chairperson Morgen Komichi's affidavit, the matter needs to be heard on an urgent basis as time is running out before the holding of the next elections.
"The 2018 general elections are imminent and the use by the respondents of applicant's name and symbol(s) was always going to be prejudicial to both applicant and the general conduct of the elections.
"Put differently, the question could not await determination on the ordinary roll otherwise any relief that would be availed at a later stage would be hollow," Komichi said.
The appeal comes after Bulawayo High Court judge Francis Bere referred the case for arbitration, following preliminary points raised by Khupe and company.
"The court a quo seriously misdirected itself, such misdirection amounting to an error in law, in finding at any rate that the matter before it was not urgent and so erred in failing to consider the applicable principle of time and consequence, the application of which entitled appellant to the indulgence of an expedited hearing."
Komichi said the issues raised have a serious impact on harmonised elections and should not be allowed to affect their credibility and fairness.
"That the matter must be heard on an urgent basis is beyond any doubt and the following considerations may need to be taken into account: the failed application was brought on an urgent basis and notwithstanding the finding of the court on the issue of urgency, applicant points to the misdirection in that finding as well as the acceptance by his lordship that there is an urgent dispute which requires resolution.
"The dispute should be resolved before the nomination court sits and without a doubt before the elections are conducted.
"It is vitally important to both parties that it particularly be resolved before the nomination courts sits," the court heard.
Khupe and her camp have not yet responded to the application.
Source - Daily News
