News / National
MDC-T wants Zanu-PF candidate disqualified
03 Jul 2013 at 16:03hrs | Views
The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai will this week approach the electoral court seeking to have the Zanu-PF parliamentary candidate for Mazowe North disqualified, on the basis that he has criminal record.
Edgar Chidavaenzi, successfully filed his papers with the nomination court in Bindura last week Friday but failed to disclose the custodial sentence. The aspiring Zanu-PF candidate was earlier this year sentenced to three years in jail for stealing a grain silo.
He took down a massive grain silo from Forrester estate in Mvurwi and took it away. However the sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he returns the silo and pays a fine.
The law governing the electoral act in the country stipulates that a candidate is automatically disqualified from seeking office if they're convicted and sentenced to jail for a period that stretches more than six months.
Shepherd Mushonga, the MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Mazowe central and a lawyer by profession, told SW Radio Africa that they will actively pursue Chidavaenzi's case with the electoral court.
'It so happened that on the day he was convicted I was present in a regional court that sat in Bindura early this year. So when he successfully filed his papers I produced copies of his indictment to the presiding officer.
'While the law is silent on issues of suspended convictions, Chidavaenzi was dishonest by conveniently failing to disclose his conviction on his nomination papers. This is coming from a man who is seeking public office and yet the rules are clear,' said Mushonga.
Edgar Chidavaenzi, successfully filed his papers with the nomination court in Bindura last week Friday but failed to disclose the custodial sentence. The aspiring Zanu-PF candidate was earlier this year sentenced to three years in jail for stealing a grain silo.
He took down a massive grain silo from Forrester estate in Mvurwi and took it away. However the sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he returns the silo and pays a fine.
The law governing the electoral act in the country stipulates that a candidate is automatically disqualified from seeking office if they're convicted and sentenced to jail for a period that stretches more than six months.
Shepherd Mushonga, the MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Mazowe central and a lawyer by profession, told SW Radio Africa that they will actively pursue Chidavaenzi's case with the electoral court.
'It so happened that on the day he was convicted I was present in a regional court that sat in Bindura early this year. So when he successfully filed his papers I produced copies of his indictment to the presiding officer.
'While the law is silent on issues of suspended convictions, Chidavaenzi was dishonest by conveniently failing to disclose his conviction on his nomination papers. This is coming from a man who is seeking public office and yet the rules are clear,' said Mushonga.
Source - sw radio
