By-elections to be held in 38 constituencies

JUSTICE and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa yesterday told Senators that by-elections will be held for all vacant seats in Parliament and local authorities instead of just three constituencies ordered by the Supreme Court in its ruling last week.

Minister Chinamasa was responding to a question from Rushinga Senator, Damian Mumvuri (Zanu-PF) who sought to know the implications of the Supreme Court ruling.

"The House needs to know that country-wide, we don't have three vacancies, but 38 in both the Senate and the House of Assembly," Minister Chinamasa said.

"Country-wide, we will have to run harmonised elections for all vacant seats in both Parliament and local authorities.

"The implication (of the ruling) is that the situation in 38 parliamentary vacant constituencies is similar to the situation in the three constituencies. The implication is we can't hold by-elections in three vacant constituencies only, but in 38 parliamentary vacant seats and in all vacant seats in local authorities as well."

However, Minister Chinamasa said he was consulting more to grasp the implications of the ruling.

"Obviously the rule of law requires that we abide by the judgment.

What is important is to consult and analyse what this means to the cash-strapped Government," he said.

MDC-T Senator for Zaka, Mr Misheck Marava, also asked Minister Chinamasa if the so-called outstanding issues would have been resolved when the next harmonised general elections are held.

Minister Chinamasa said it was the President's prerogative to set the date for the elections.

The Supreme Court last week gave the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces up to August 30 this year to publish a notice ordering the by-election to fill in the three parliamentary posts in Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East constituencies.

The three seats fell vacant after MDC legislators Abednico Bhebhe, (Nkayi South) Njabulo Mguni (Bulilima East) and Norman Mpofu (Lupane East) were expelled from the party and subsequently relieved of their parliamentary positions.

The three instituted a court action after declaring their interest to contest in the constituencies as independent candidates.

The Supreme Court's full bench (Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, Justices Vernanda Ziyambi, Paddington Garwe, Anne-Mary Gowora and Yunus Omerjee) upheld the High Court's decision.

Justice Nicholas Ndou in October last year directed the President to ensure the by-elections for the three vacant posts in Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East are held despite the financial challenges Government is facing.

The President, through Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Chinamasa, submitted in the High Court proceedings that there were more than three constituencies awaiting by-elections.

This, he argued, required US$38 million. In terms of Section 4(1)(e) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Clerk of Parliament notified the three that their membership had been terminated with effect from July 22, 2009.

The Speaker of Parliament notified the President of the development as required by the law on August 17 2009.

The President did not make the expected proclamation, prompting the trio to approach the higher court.

Bhebhe, Mguni and Mpofu were elected members of the House of Assembly in the 2008 general election under the MDC ticket and they fell out of favour with their party resulting in their expulsion in 2009.