Presidential ballot papers cannot be printed without us: Kasukuwere #ElectionsZW
By Daniel Chigundu
Independent candidate Saviour Kasukuwere says the ballot papers for the 2023 Presidentual election will not be legally printed without his name.
Kasukuwere was disqualified from contesting for President by the High Court for not meeting the requirements.
However, writing on his Twitter handle, Kasukuwere said excluding his name from the Presidential ballot paper would require President Emmerson Mnangagwa to proclaim another nomination court.
“The Presidential Ballot papers cannot be legally and legitimately be printed without strict and peremptory compliance with section 107 as read together with section 108 of the Electoral Act. The afore mentioned provision in particular section 107 contemplates the withdrawal of a presidential candidate willingly. It also contemplates a removal of a candidate by death.
“The framers of the Electoral Act never contemplated the removal of a candidate by the medium of disqualification by virtue of section 23(3) of the Electoral Act. If thus , I have been removed from the presidential list , section 108 must kick in and by operation of section 158 of the Act, ED must do a further proclamation published in the gazette per section 38(4) of the Act announcing the sitting of the new nomination court.
So when is the nomination court sitting ? So when is the proclamation going to be made. It’s catch 22 . This election will never be held without us. Indeed the law is an ass. # Asambeni sibone. # Asifuni amagwala,” he said.
After Kasukuwere disqualification, there 11 candidates contesting for President. Among the 11, there is only one female candidate, Elisabeth Valerio (United Zimbabwe Alliance) who is also vying for the top post.