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Herald Reporter
Zanu-PF aspiring candidate for Harare East in the by-elections set for June 10, Cde Terence Mukupe, has appealed at the Electoral Court against the party and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission following the last-minute rejection of his papers at the Nomination Court last week. Cde Mukupe also cited as respondents the Nomination Court officer whom he referred to only as Mrs Kurima and Zanu-PF candidate Mavis Gumbo, who successfully filed her papers to stand on the party’s ticket in the constituency.
Cde Mukupe had been announced as the winner of the party primary elections to contest in Harare East, but his candidature was rejected after he presented his papers at the Nomination Court, prompting him to approach the Electoral Court.
He is now seeking an order setting aside his disqualification as the Zanu-PF candidate and wants to be declared the party’s official candidate.
In his papers submitted at the Electoral Court yesterday, Cde Mukupe listed Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau, nomination officer Mrs Kurima, Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Mr Godwills Masimirembwa and Gumbo as respondents.
He is challenging the province’s decision to withdraw his papers at the Nomination Court and replace him with Gumbo who lost to him during the primary elec- tions.
Cde Mukupe polled 651 votes against Gumbo’s 369.
He said in his papers that he was disqualified on “controversial” grounds that he did not have the requisite five cumulative years serving in the party at district level.
“This was done by the province after they unilaterally concluded that without going through my curriculum vitae,” said Cde Mukupe. “I appealed against that decision and I was allowed to participate in the primary elec- tions.”
Cde Mukupe said after he had successfully filed his papers with the Nomination Court on April 16, Cde Masimirembwa came with a photocopied letter allegedly authored by the Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo advising him that the party had withdrawn his candidature and replaced him with Gumbo.
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