End Of The Road For CCC As Court Bars MPs From Contesting By-elections
The Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) party has faced another huge blow after its recalled MPs and councillors were barred by the High Court from contesting in the upcoming by-elections.
The High Court ruling comes after Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be CCC’s interim secretary general, approached the courts seeking the prohibition of CCC MPs and councillors he recalled from participating in the by-election.
Lewis Uriri, Tshabangu’s lawyer, argued that the recalled MPs of CCC should not run under the party’s name from which they were expelled.
They presented the case before Justice Never Katiyo in the High Court on Wednesday. Following the arguments, Justice Katiyo chose to reserve judgment on the matter.
Today, Justice Katiyo delivered his judgment, ruling in favor of Tshabangu. The High Court granted Sengezo Tshabangu’s request to prevent the recalled MPs and Councillors from participating in the upcoming by-elections. The by-elections are scheduled for this Saturday, December 9th.
ZimLive has confirmed the High Court’s ruling on their X account:
“Recalled CCC MPs and councillors have been barred by the High Court from running in Saturday’s by-elections.”
CORR: Recalled CCC MPs and councillors have been barred by the High Court from running in Saturday's by-elections. The by-election in Mabvuku Tafara GOES AHEAD with a CCC candidate Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi on the ballot after Sengezo Tshabangu said he was recalled in error pic.twitter.com/SgsFghozMK
— ZimLive (@zimlive) December 7, 2023
Meanwhile, the CCC party has since appealed this judgement in the Supreme Court.
Mabvuku Tafara By-elections to Go on
The by-elections for Mabvuku-Tafara will proceed as planned on Saturday. This comes after Sengezo Tshabangu claimed that he mistakenly recalled CCC candidate Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi.
“The by-election in Mabvuku Tafara GOES AHEAD with a CCC candidate Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi on the ballot after Sengezo Tshabangu said he was recalled in error.”
Sengezo Tshabangu’s lawyer revealed that the High Court ruling on the recalled candidates will not affect Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi.
