'MDC-T lied about opening of ballot boxes'

Last week, we erroneously reported that Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, sitting as a judge of the Electoral Court, had ordered by consent the opening of all ballot boxes and election materials for the Mt Pleasant National Assembly election held on July 31.

Our story followed the widespread circulation of this incorrect information by the MDC-T, where it was alleged that the order followed a court application by MDC-T candidate Jameson Timba, pursuant to the elections court petition that he filed to have the election held in Mt Pleasant, in Harare, set aside for reasons of alleged electoral malpractices and irregularities.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has now brought it to our attention that Justice Bhunu neither made nor signed such an order.

High Court Registrar Sithembinkosi Mspia dismissed the report that Justice Bhunu had granted a consent order against Zec, arguing the matter was still pending before the court.

"The judge did not make any order nor sign any order. The judge has to date not received any copy of the alleged consent draft from any of the lawyers for any of the parties," the High Court Registrar said in a letter dated October 29, 2013 addressed to Bulawayo24 News.

In addition, the judge had not received any copy of the alleged consent draft from any of the lawyers acting on behalf of the parties involved in the Mt  Pleasant electoral dispute.

We  therefore unconditionally withdraw it.

We would also like to apologise unreservedly to Justice Bhunu and other parties to this dispute for our unwitting error.MDC-T misled us.