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date for harmonised elections, acknowledged that no further amendments to any electoral related law were possible in the wake of the Presidential proclamation.
The admission is contained in the party’s “Strategic Election Litigation” document drawn with the assistance of donor funded law organisations and law firms in a bid to subvert the Constitutional Court ruling and soil the image of the judiciary.
In his contribution during the brainstorming meeting held in the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Boardroom on June 3, a senior MDC-T official Mr Eric Matinenga — who is also Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the inclusive Government — acknowledged that no further amendments could be made to the Electoral Law once dates for elections had been set.
The meeting was convened to brainstorm frivolous applications aimed at subverting the implementation of the Constitutional Court ruling.
“EM (Eric Matinenga) further stated that sections 162 (5), 157 (5) say once the President proclaims the election then no amendments will be effective for the purpose of the new Constitution, process of amendment is critical and affects the timeline,” read the minutes of the meeting that was chaired by Mr Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook.
“EM stated that it was not clear if the President will follow this patent reasoning and it was imperative for the process of emending the laws to be expedited.”
The team also expressed discomfort with some of the Constitutional Court judges whom it said were inimical to the success of its litigation crusade.
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“The last issue was that even when there is a legal strategy, the judges are a cause of concern for example (Ben) Hlatswayo, (Ann–Mary) Gowora and (Antonia) Guvava. They even had acting judges such as (George) Chiweshe, there was a need to look at the caliber of judges and their past record,” the minutes read.
Scanlen and Holderness; Dube, Manikai and Hwacha Legal Practitioners; Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, were among the firms represented at the meeting that also drew the MDC-T trio of Eric Matinenga, Tendai Biti and Douglas Mwonzora along with Ms Rose Zigomo and Alex Magaisa from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Online Reporter