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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has revoked its decision to hold a recount of votes in Mudzi South after the winning National Assembly candidate Mr Jonathan Samukange successfully objected to it. Mr Samukange, a senior partner at Venturas and Samukange law firm, won the election on July 31 but the losing candidate Cde Eric Navaya sought a recount at ZEC. On Saturday ZEC ordered a recount, which was set for today (Tuesday August 6) at Makaha Primary School in Mudzi.
Cde Navaya sought a recount on the basis that his agents were sent out of the polling station during the counting exercise and that the presiding officer took the ballot boxes on his own to the command centre. He also indicated that his agent at Chikwizo Primary School was assaulted by another agent inside the polling station.
Mr Samukange raised some points of law objecting to the decision by ZEC in a letter written to the commission’s chairperson Justice Rita Makarau.
He argued that Section 67A of the Act relied upon by ZEC in ordering the recount was only applicable in situations where a miscounting was alleged and that Cde Navaya was actually alleging vote rigging.
Mr Samukange argued that the law required ZEC to first notify all political parties and individuals who participated in the election of the request for a recount before ordering a recount, which he said was not done.
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Peter Tanyanyiwa