News / National
Constitutional Court starts hearing election date challenges today
26 Jun 2013 at 03:55hrs | Views
THE Constitutional Court (Concourt) will today start hearing election applications setting the tone for a bruising battle over the date to hold the forthcoming harmonised ballot.
Chief justice Godfrey Chidyausiku alongside eight other Concourt judges will also give a determination on an application by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, seeking an extension of the July 31 election date to August 14 this year, a date challenged by both Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC leader Welshman Ncube.
However, it remains to be seen whether the nomination court which was set to sit on "Thursday June 28" which date has turned out to be non-existent on this year's calendar, will proceed as planned given the date boob.
Justice Chidyausiku last week said all election dispute matters would be placed on a continuous roll and be heard starting today until Friday this week to pave way for preparations of the holding of general elections this year.
Tsvangirai filed his papers on Monday while Ncube filed his yesterday following an order by Justice Chidyausiku that all parties cited as respondents in Chinamasa's application, including DPM Arthur Mutambara, Ncube, Attorney-General's office and Jealousy Mawarire should file their papers by today.
It is Tsvangirai's argument however, that Chinamasa unilaterally filed the application before the Concourt citing others as respondents whereas they were all supposed to be applicants in the matter as per Sadc resolution in Maputo.
Chief justice Godfrey Chidyausiku alongside eight other Concourt judges will also give a determination on an application by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, seeking an extension of the July 31 election date to August 14 this year, a date challenged by both Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC leader Welshman Ncube.
However, it remains to be seen whether the nomination court which was set to sit on "Thursday June 28" which date has turned out to be non-existent on this year's calendar, will proceed as planned given the date boob.
Justice Chidyausiku last week said all election dispute matters would be placed on a continuous roll and be heard starting today until Friday this week to pave way for preparations of the holding of general elections this year.
Tsvangirai filed his papers on Monday while Ncube filed his yesterday following an order by Justice Chidyausiku that all parties cited as respondents in Chinamasa's application, including DPM Arthur Mutambara, Ncube, Attorney-General's office and Jealousy Mawarire should file their papers by today.
It is Tsvangirai's argument however, that Chinamasa unilaterally filed the application before the Concourt citing others as respondents whereas they were all supposed to be applicants in the matter as per Sadc resolution in Maputo.
Source - newsday
