Delimitation report - Chidawu pleads for Concourt ...

Delimitation report - Chidawu pleads for Concourt intervention

Tonderayi Chidawu (L) with President Mnangagwa

Philemon Jambaya

Con Court hears Chidawu delimitation report Challenge

The Constitutional court has initiated proceedings to hear the matter of a Zanu PF member, Tonderayi Chidawu, who is challenging the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) delimitation report, which he claims has irregularities.

Chidawu, who is being represented by Lovemore Madhuku, wants the delimitation exercise redone.

In his papers, Chidawu cited Parliament of Zimbabwe as the respondent, accusing the august house of failing to set aside the delimitation report and initiate investigations into it.

“I believe that Parliament has failed to fulfil a constitutional obligation. This failure has arisen in respect of the processes that have unfolded following the tabling in Parliament by the President of a preliminary delimitation report in terms of section 161(7) of the Constitution.

“The preliminary delimitation report tabled before Parliament was not signed by any of the Commissioners, a fact so glaring that Parliament ought to have sprung into action when I raised the issue, given that previous such reports were signed by all commissioners,” read the court papers in part application at the apex court.

Chidawu argues that the delimitation report was signed by two commissioners out of nine, questioning whether it was a result of ZEC as a body corporate or two members of the commission.

Chidawu’s application is backed by affidavits from the two commissioners whose signatures are not appearing on the report – Cathrine Mpofu and Shepherd Manhivi.

His submissions to the Concourt follow his letter of January 7, which he wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, requesting for the delimitation report to be investigated.

The delimitation report was tabled before Parliament on January 6 this year.

The findings in the delimitation report will be used in the forthcoming elections.

Parliament has since debated on the report with an ad hoc committee trashing it as both opposition and ruling party members of Parliament denounced it.