MDC-T secretary for programs and party business Norest Marara filed an urgent High Court application to nullify nomination and election of Douglas Mwonzora as president ahead of the Party Congress slated for 18 December 2022.
Mwonzora is cited as the 2nd respondent.
The National Council which is the highest making decision body of the party outside congress is being accused of presiding over a clandestine nomination process at the behest of Mwonzora on 20 November 2022.
Marara who ran as Harare Central MP Candidate in the March 2022 by elections declared his intention to challenge the incumbent before early November before the congress dates were set.
The congress that will be held in two weeks was long overdue after being postponed on a couple of occasions by the party leadership due to funding modalities.
In an urgent High Court Application filed by Marara last Thursday, he maintains that the nomination and election of Mwonzora before congress was meant to bar him from contesting as party president.
“On the basis of my longstanding membership, I am eligible to stand for and be elected to hold any office in the party including the office of the President at the party’s Congress.
“I have publicly declared my interest to contest for the position of President at the forthcoming Congress.
“I believe that all the tampering with the electoral rules has been orchestrated by the 2nd respondent and his proxies to disqualify me and other prospective members from contesting the party presidency.
“And what happened on the 20th of November 2022 is a clear manifestation of disenfranchisement,” read the application.
The relief sought, “The court must intervene and stop the respondents and anybody acting through them and in their behalf from barring me or interfering with my rights to contest in the election.”
