Kasukuwere not a registered voter, presidential candidature under the microscope

Harare- THE Harmonised elections pencilled for August 23 have reached fever pitch with 11 presidential aspirants having been approved by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission after supposedly meeting set requirements.

However,Express Mail Zim has learnt that one of the aspiring presidential candidate and former Zanu PF political commisar Saviour ‘Tyson’ Kasukuwere’s eligibility is a matter of conjecture following an urgent chamber application filed at the High Court Monday by a citizen Lovedale Mangwana questioning the legality of his candidature.

Mangwana instructed V Nyemba law firm and his grounds of argument were that Kasukuwere is not s registered voter by virtue of being not been a resident in any constituency in Zimbabwe for a period in excess of 18 consecutive months- which is in violation of Section 91(1) (c) of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of Zimbabwe ” read further together with Section 24 and (3) of the Electoral Act.”

The Act states that Tyson’s name cannot be retained on the voter’s roll under the prevailing circumstances thereby making his nomination a nullity.

Part of the urgent chamber application reads:

“Further notice that the application is made on the grounds that o n 22June 2023, the Nomination Court sat consequent upon promulgation
of the date for general elections (which is 23 August 2023).
“First respondent (Kasukuwere) submitted his nomination paper before the Nomination
Court to be accepted as a candidate for election to the office of President of
the Republic of Zimbabwe in the forthcoming elections. ”

“The Nomination
Court accepted his nomination paper but the decision of the Nomination Court is in violation of section 91 (1) (c) and
(d) as read with paragraph 1 (2) of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution
of Zimbabwe, 2013 as read further together with section 23 and (3) of the
Electoral Act more particularly in that first respondent is not a registered
voter in that he has not been resident in any constituency in the Republic of Zimbabwe
for a period in excess of 18 consecutive months, an his name cannot, by that circumstance, be retained on the voter’s roll.”

The self exiled G40 acolyte and former Central Intelligence Operative successfully filed his nomination papers last Wednesday through his election agent Harare in the form of lawyer Jackie Sande.

This was after he threw a dummy of booking a plane ticket and deliberately leaking the information on social media in a ‘dry run ‘ of his safety with local law enforcement agents as he is believed to have at least two warrants of arrest.

Tyson hails from Mashonaland Central and his participation (if legitimised) in the presidential polls has an impact in diluting the ruling party’s votes along tribal lines.

He is brother to Dickson Mafios and like his brother ‘s last name suggests, he is a ‘mafioso’ who has seen it all and done it all in Zanu PF and the party system remains in his ‘DNA’ giving him an edge to penetrate although he is a little to late given that it’s only just above one month to the polls.

Tyson is being backed by former Tourism minister Walter Mzembi who is his campaign manager and he (Mzembi,) sold his plush Vainona House for US$1.2 million to a top Zanu PF politician (name withheld) maybe in a move to boost coffers for campaigning.

Meanwhile, the ruling party launched it’s campaign at a packed rally held in Chipinge , Manicaland.

It was an epoch!