Tsvangirai polls petition be heard on Saturday

via Tsvangirai polls petition be heard on Saturday | The Zimbabwe Independent  by Paidamoyo Muzulu

PRELIMINARY issues raised in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s electoral petition challenging the July 31 presidential poll result will be heard on Saturday following an agreement by lawyers from all parties at a pre-trial conference at the Constitutional Court (ConCourt).

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) announced President Robert Mugabe the winner of the poll with 61% of the vote way ahead of his main rival Tsvangirai who had 33%.

Mugabe’s lawyer, Advocate Fred Gijima said two issues raised at the pre-trial conference were what form the hearing should take and whether the Attorney-General should be enjoined to the case.

“The court will on Saturday decide on two preliminary issues on whether the hearing should be done through an application or a trial and if the Attorney-General can be enjoined to the case,” Gijima said.

Tsvangirai is seeking the nullification of the presidential poll and a re-run within 60 days from the date of judgment. MDC-T has since labelled the poll as a ‘farce’ in public statements.

The pre-trial conference agreed that all parties should have filed their papers with the court by Friday 17:00 Hours.

Tsvangirai is being represented by Advocate Lewis Uriri, Alec Muchadehama and Chris Mhike. Gijima is representing Mugabe while Advocate Farai Mutangamira is represents the Attorney-General and Tawanda Kanengoni is representing the Zec in the matter.

According to the new constitution, the ConCourt should finalise the application within two weeks of the petition being filed. Mugabe’s swearing in for his new term will be held in abeyance until the matter is finalised.