News / National
MDC-T losing candidates files election petitions
17 Aug 2013 at 08:27hrs | Views
Scores of MDC-T losing National Assembly candidates were last night involved in a last minute filing of election petitions, a development that forced the Electoral Court's registry to operate until 9.30pm.
At least 89 candidates, including Mr Jameson Timba who lost the Mt Pleasant constituency in Harare, Mr Eric Knight (Mbare), Mr Ian Kay (Marondera Central), Mr Jason Matewu (Buhera West) and Mr James Gumbi (Zaka East) successfully filed their petitions.
National Assembly losing candidates, according to the electoral law, are expected to file their petitions within 14 days after the announcement of the results and yesterday was the last day.
The lawyers started trickling to the court around 5pm and the registry staffers were busy accepting petitions until 9.30pm when they locked their doors.
Most of the petitioners complained of intimidation of voters by the traditional leadership, non-provision of the electronic voters' roll, vote-buying, turning away of voters and others.
Mr Kay indicated in his petition that Zanu-PF politicians in the constituency would deliver truckloads of cabbages, day-old chicks, mealie-meal, footballs, football uniforms and cash to the people to lure them into voting for the party.
He argued such donations amounted to vote-buying and was not acceptable in terms of the electoral laws.
He also raised concern over the number of voters who were assisted to vote, which he viewed as a loophole that can be capitalised to rig elections.
Mr Lovemore Kadenge, who lost the Chikomba East seat to Cde Edgar Mbwembwe, stated in his papers that the traditional leaders in the constituency threatened to evict any person who did not vote for Zanu-PF and that the voting process was flawed.
Mr Silas Gweshe, who lost to Cde Biggie Matiza in Murewa South, claims his campaign posters were consistently pulled down or torn and that violence broke out in the constituency resulting in some houses being destroyed.
He claims that the police upon receiving the reports of violence, did not take any action.
At least 89 candidates, including Mr Jameson Timba who lost the Mt Pleasant constituency in Harare, Mr Eric Knight (Mbare), Mr Ian Kay (Marondera Central), Mr Jason Matewu (Buhera West) and Mr James Gumbi (Zaka East) successfully filed their petitions.
National Assembly losing candidates, according to the electoral law, are expected to file their petitions within 14 days after the announcement of the results and yesterday was the last day.
The lawyers started trickling to the court around 5pm and the registry staffers were busy accepting petitions until 9.30pm when they locked their doors.
Most of the petitioners complained of intimidation of voters by the traditional leadership, non-provision of the electronic voters' roll, vote-buying, turning away of voters and others.
He argued such donations amounted to vote-buying and was not acceptable in terms of the electoral laws.
He also raised concern over the number of voters who were assisted to vote, which he viewed as a loophole that can be capitalised to rig elections.
Mr Lovemore Kadenge, who lost the Chikomba East seat to Cde Edgar Mbwembwe, stated in his papers that the traditional leaders in the constituency threatened to evict any person who did not vote for Zanu-PF and that the voting process was flawed.
Mr Silas Gweshe, who lost to Cde Biggie Matiza in Murewa South, claims his campaign posters were consistently pulled down or torn and that violence broke out in the constituency resulting in some houses being destroyed.
He claims that the police upon receiving the reports of violence, did not take any action.
Source - herald
