News / National
Mugabe, Tsvangirai taken to the Supreme Court over polls
09 May 2013 at 03:26hrs | Views
Lawyers representing Harare man Mr Jealousy Mawarire yesterday revived his bid to compel President Robert Mugabe to proclaim election dates by June 29 after filing a fresh application seeking the Supreme Court's permission to have the main case heard on an urgent basis.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, through the chief registrar, Mr Walter Chikwana, on Tuesday declined to hear the application advising Mr Mawarire to first seek permission for his court application to be heard urgently.
If the Supreme Court grants the permission, Mr Mawarire would then proceed to argue the merits of the matter.
Mandizha and Company, acting for Mr Mawarire, yesterday mounted the application and it was still to be set down for hearing.
In the fresh application, Mr Mawarire cited President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube and the Attorney-General as respondents.
In the main court application Mr Mawarire wants President Mugabe to proclaim the dates by June 29 in line with the fast-approaching expiry of terms of office of local authorities, Parliament and the President.
He argues that if elections delay, Zimbabwe would be running under an illegality without councillors, Parliament and the President.
Mr Mawarire says that he is a registered voter in Zaka East Constituency and that as a citizen of Zimbabwe he had a legal standing to mount such an application.
Mr Mawarire, a member of the Centre for Election Democracy in Southern Africa, argues that the looming expiry of Parliament had triggered confusion and debate among representatives of political parties and the inclusive Government.
The MDC formations, Mr Mawarire says, were pushing for the extension of the lifespan of Parliament when there is no such provision in the constitution.
If the election date is not fixed in line with the looming expiry of the terms, Zimbabwe would be plunged into a situation where it would be run illegally.
The four respondents were still to file their responses with the registrar of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, through the chief registrar, Mr Walter Chikwana, on Tuesday declined to hear the application advising Mr Mawarire to first seek permission for his court application to be heard urgently.
If the Supreme Court grants the permission, Mr Mawarire would then proceed to argue the merits of the matter.
Mandizha and Company, acting for Mr Mawarire, yesterday mounted the application and it was still to be set down for hearing.
In the fresh application, Mr Mawarire cited President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube and the Attorney-General as respondents.
In the main court application Mr Mawarire wants President Mugabe to proclaim the dates by June 29 in line with the fast-approaching expiry of terms of office of local authorities, Parliament and the President.
Mr Mawarire says that he is a registered voter in Zaka East Constituency and that as a citizen of Zimbabwe he had a legal standing to mount such an application.
Mr Mawarire, a member of the Centre for Election Democracy in Southern Africa, argues that the looming expiry of Parliament had triggered confusion and debate among representatives of political parties and the inclusive Government.
The MDC formations, Mr Mawarire says, were pushing for the extension of the lifespan of Parliament when there is no such provision in the constitution.
If the election date is not fixed in line with the looming expiry of the terms, Zimbabwe would be plunged into a situation where it would be run illegally.
The four respondents were still to file their responses with the registrar of the Supreme Court.
Source - herald
