Tsvangirai's MDC-T seeks to bar by-elections

The main opposition MDC-T yesterday filed a Constitutional Court challenge seeking to bar the nomination courts from sitting to consider nomination of parliamentary candidates for the Mount Darwin West and Chirumanzi-Zibagwe constituencies, arguing the process was flawed.

Party spokesman Obert Gutu said the MDC-T national executive met in Harare and resolved to launch the legal challenge after noting that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) had failed to conduct voter registration for new voters and did not have control of the voters' roll.

"We filed an urgent court application through our lawyer Chris Mhike seeking the nullification of the sitting of the nomination court to receive nominations of candidates for the by-elections," Gutu said.

The two seats fell vacant following the elevation of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to the presidium.

The MDC-T and Zapu have ruled out participation in the by-elections slated for March 27 this year, demanding electoral and media reforms to even the playing field.

Although the Welshman Ncube-led MDC has not yet spelt out its position, the NCA led by Lovemore Madhuku yesterday confirmed its participation in the by-elections.

Zanu-PF is being represented by Barnwell Seremwe (Mount Darwin West) and Auxillia Mnangagwa (Chirimanzu-Zibagwe).