Kidwell Mujuru challenges CCC candidate in court

FORMER Zanu-PF Councillor for Ward 6 in Cowdray Park suburb, Cde Kidwell Mujuru, has filed an urgent High Court application challenging the election and christening thereafter of Mr Nkosilathi Mpofu as councillor of the ward, after he was recalled by the Citizens Coalition for Change before the December 9 by-elections.

In his founding affidavit, Cde Mujuru cited Mr Mpofu as the 1st respondent, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as the 2nd respondent and the chairperson of the electoral commission as the 3rd respondent.

Cde Mujuru in an affidavit gleaned by Chronicle argues that Mr Mpofu’s participation in the December 9 by-elections was illegal.

“The 1st respondent was elected to the Ward 6 Bulawayo Municipal Council in the general elections held on 23 August 2023 as a member of CCC. After a few months he ceased to belong to that party.

“The party’s interim Secretary-General, Sengezo Tshabangu then informed the Minister of Local Government and Public Works accordingly and pursuant to provisions of Section 129 (1) (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013, 1st respondent was then recalled from being councillor of Ward 6 Bulawayo Municipality Council,” said Cde Mujuru.

He went on to argue that since Mr Mpofu was recalled by CCC, he then immediately ceased to be a member of the party and therefore ceased to be a councillor.

Cde Mujuru said Mr Mpofu misrepresented himself in the nomination court when he filed his papers as a CCC candidate.

“I must state that some of the recalled official kin of the position of the 1st respondent challenged the recalls at the High Court in case numbers HCH6449/23 and HCH6684/23 resulting in the judgement by Mutevedzia H in Sibanda and Ors v Tshabangu and Ors v Tshabangu and Anor HH – 601 -23,” read part of the affidavit.