ZEC opposing Linda Masarira’s nomination challenge says it lacks merit #ElectionsZW
By Daniel Chigundu
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is opposing Linda Masarira’s court application where she is challenging the rejection of her nomination to contest in the Presidential elections.
Masarira who fronts the Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) failed to pay nomination fees on nomination day due to bank limits.
This has resulted in only male candidates being successfully nominated to contest for President on 23 August 2023.
The outspoken politician is of the view that she cannot be punished because of the country’s banking policies and therefore wants her nomination to be accepted.
This resulted in her seeking redress at the Electoral Court, as is required by the law.
However, according to a notice of opposition seen by OpenParly, ZEC is arguing that the challenge lacks merit, as Masarira failed to satisfy the requirements of nomination, on nomination day.
‘’The appeal is not merited. The appellant attended at nomination court and sought to use the RTGS system of payment for nomination fees.
‘’She presented an application for transfer of funds to the 4th respondent without the corresponding confirmation whether the application had been effected by her bank.
‘’She then sought to use ZIPIT system to make payment of nomination fees. Her transaction limit on her bank account for the month was however inadequate to meet the nomination fees for presidential candidacy using the ZIPIT platform.
‘’There was no insistence that appellant effect payment in USD. Payment in USD was one payment methods available to her at her election.
‘’The press statement issued by the 4th respondent (ZEC) does not apply in a circumstance where the candidate was unable to present the proof of payment to the nomination officer on nomination day or had not had challenges with the 4th respondent’s POS machines.
‘’The appellant had done neither. Accordingly, the appeal lacks merit as the appellant failed to satisfy the peremptory requirements of nomination, on nomination day as required under ss46 and 47 of the Electoral Act [Cap 2:13], and it should be dismissed with costs,’’ said ZEC in its reply.
Bank limits affected the payment of nomination fees
Masarira is not the only Presidential candidate who was affected by bank issues on nomination day, as United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) president Elisabeth Valerio also had her nomination rejected.
Unlike Masarira, Valerio claims that she had made the money transfers, but the presiding officers at the nomination court, rejected her proof of payment, demanding that they want the money reflected in the ZEC accounts first.
Valerio is also challenging the rejection of her nomination papers.
ZEC is expected to announce the final list of nominated candidates for the 2023 general election this Friday.
People aspiring to contest in the Presidential election were required to pay US$20 000 nomination fees, or equivalent in RTGS.
ZEC opposing Linda Masarira’s nomination challenge says it lacks merit #ElectionsZW
