Nelson Chamisa has formally registered his concerns with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to stop registering candidates with a link to self-proclaimed CCC Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu or anyone who uses his face as a logo without his authorisation.
Chamisa communicated this stance through his legal representatives in a letter dispatched to ZEC on Monday.
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Interestingly, the Nomination Court convened on Monday to address vacancies resulting from the recall of an additional six Citizens Coalition for Change legislators from Parliament by self-proclaimed Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu. By-elections for these seats are scheduled for February 3rd next year. The six constituencies set for by-elections are Pelandaba, Goromonzi South, Seke, Chegutu West, Zvimba East, and Mkoba North.
Chamisa stressed that only individuals with nomination papers signed by those listed in a letter dated June 15, 2023, are authorized to use his image as a logo.
He strongly advised ZEC against accepting any nomination papers from Sengezo Tshabangu if they bear his image. Chamisa’s lawyers said if ZEC accepts Tshabangu’s papers it would be a violation of his constitutional right. Chamisa’s legal team argued that accepting Tshabangu’s papers would constitute a violation of Chamisa’s constitutional rights. They issued a warning of potential legal action against both ZEC for accepting Tshabangu’s nomination papers and Tshabangu for using Chamisa’s face as a logo for his Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction.
“We advise that an unauthorized use, and consequently, acceptance by your office, of any nomination papers bearing the image of our client’s face constitutes violation of his Constitutional right to privacy as well as compulsory deprivation of his property rights. We are further instructed to take legal action against anyone who uses, accepts or permits the unauthorized use of our client’s property,” a portion of the letter to ZEC stated.
