Kasukuwere corners ZEC?

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is cornered by independent presidential election candidate Saviour Kasukuwere over the printing of ballot papers for the important poll.

After Kasukuwere lost in the High Court, a decision which was later confirmed by the Supreme Court, Zec started printing presidential election ballot papers.

The judgement followed a High Court application by Zanu PF activist Lovedale Mangwana to get Kasukuwere disqualified on grounds that he is no longer a registered voter since he has been out of the country for 18 consecutive months.

The courts agreed, effectively removing him from the voters' roll, a serious violation of his fundamental right to vote ans be voted for.

However, Kasukuwere has not given up after the Supreme Court loss following his appeal.

He has now gone further to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) to seek leave to appeal, making the case a constitutional matter. Hearing is set down for Tuesday 9:30am.

This means Zec's ongoing printing of ballots is illegal.

Kasukuwere wrote to Zec asking them to stop.

Zec first refused, but later said it has stopped, although it has not shown that it has indeed.

So as it stands it can't legally  proceed before the court case is resolved.

Even if ConCourt denies Kasukuwere jurisdiction, Zec might still find itself stuck as more cases on some legitimate concomitant issues are bound to come.

For instance on the issue that Kasukuwere's name is still on the government gazette as a candidate.

And that if he is removed as a candidate, the. a nomination process has to take place.

Given the legal imbroglio, the elections set for 23 August risk being tied in legal knots, hence unable to proceed.