via Litigation backlog worries Zanu-PF | The Herald December 16, 2015
Lovemore Mataire Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF has recommended swift resolution of pending court cases particularly in Mashonaland East Province that has the highest number of outstanding cases involving expelled, suspended members and party cadres facing litigation arising from party- related activities. In its submissions contained in the Central Committee report, the legal affairs department urged the party to expeditiously pay outstanding fees to legal practitioners who represented the party in the 2013 harmonised elections.
“The department is currently not in good standing with legal practitioners who represented the party in the courts of law. We run the risk of legal practitioners refusing to handle party matters in the future,” reads part of the legal affairs report.
The legal department urged the party to pay legal practitioners arrears that have accrued since 2013 and resolved that it works closely with the finance department to address the arrears owed to legal advisors.
According to the report, Mashonaland East tops the list in pending court cases and highlights the number of cases filed by expelled members that were dismissed with costs while others are still pending.
Former Mwenezi East MP Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, who was expelled for plotting to topple President Mugabe from power, filed a constitutional application to stop the Mwenezi by-election, but his application was dismissed with costs. His other High Court application to set aside his expulsion from Zanu-PF was also dismissed with costs.
However, his appeal to the Supreme Court is still pending.
Similarly, former legislator for Mbire David Butai had his High Court application to stop the Parliament Speaker from declaring the Mbire seat vacant was dismissed with costs and a date for his Concourt challenge of the same matter is still to be advised.
Former Cabinet minister and Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa’s High Court bid to be reinstated in party is also pending and a hearing date has not yet been set.
Judgment for former Hurungwe West legislator Temba Mliswa to set aside the Hurungwe by-election results has been reserved on points of law.
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