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Herald Reporter
MASHONALAND East Proportional Representative Member of Parliament, Ms Constance Chihota (CCC), is set to return to the National Assembly after the High Court ruled that her recall from Parliament was legally invalid.
Ms Chihota was among several legislators who were recalled after CCC interim secretary general, Senator Sengenzo Tshabangu, wrote to Parliament informing it that the legislators had ceased to belong to the party.
To that end, said Sen Tshabangu, the legislators had to be withdrawn from Parliament in terms of the Constitution.
Aggrieved by the decision recalling her, Ms Chihota was among those that challenged the decision, resulting in the High Court upholding the contest.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba has since given a notification to the effect that the High Court had directed Ms Chihota’s reinstatement.
“The public is hereby notified that on 19th July 2024, the High Court of Zimbabwe handed down a judgment through the High Court Order HCBC 488/24 instructing Parliament to reinstate Hon. Constance Chihota as a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party member of Parliament representing Mashonaland East Province. The Honourable member had been erroneously recalled by her sponsoring party on 7th November 2023. She is a member of the National Assembly by virtue of section 124(1)(b) and of the Constitution. The public is therefore informed that no vacancy exists among party-list members of the National Assembly following the said order,” reads the notice by Justice Chigumba.
The CCC recalled several of its legislators as divisions rocked the opposition party since the August harmonised elections.
This saw the party failing to retain some of its constituencies during by-elections as Zanu PF re-asserted its dominance in some urban constituencies that have in the past been touted as opposition strongholds.
Online Reporter