MDC-T candidate for Mkoba Ward 12 by-election Fortunate Chiokoyo has filed an urgent High Court application contesting alleged irregularities on the voters’ roll. STEPHEN CHADENGA/ RICHARD MUPONDE
In March, Mkoba MP and MDC-T national executive member Amos Chibaya told journalists at a press briefing that the by-election scheduled for April 12 was flawed as it contained names of dead people as well as those residing outside the ward.
The High Court case number 2879/14 cites Chiokoyo as the applicant and Zanu PF candidate Charles Simbi and the National Constitutional Assembly as the first and second respondents respectively.
Judge Justice Tendai Uchena yesterday presided over the appeal and was still expected to make a ruling on the matter.
Chibaya confirmed the petition and said they expected the issue of the “shambolic voters’ roll” to be addressed before Saturday’s by-election.
The party claimed that people such as Landeni Banda of Mkoba 7 who died in 1998, Mbano Ruth of Mkoba 7 who passed away in 1997, Grace Solani Mashizha of Mkoba 6 who died in 2006 and Calisto Fidelis Makore of Mkoba 7 who also died in the same year still appear on the roll.
The MDC-T alleged that some people like Ellen Nyaradzo Nduna from Mkoba Teachers’ College were registered twice with the same national identification number, but under different sexes.
Meanwhile, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s political road show – move to Matabeleland North this weekend with a rally at Chinotimba Stadium in Victoria Falls as he attempts to consolidate his grip on the turmoil-ridden party.
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Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday told Southern Eye that the rally was being organised but could not give the exact date.
“Arrangements are being made to have that rally in Victoria Falls. However, I cannot say when; I will have to check with the people responsible for logistics to confirm the exact dates,” Tamborinyoka said.
However, sources in Victoria Falls said the rally was scheduled for Sunday at Chinotimba Stadium.
Tsvangirai’s visit to the province comes at the height of an on-going power struggle for control of the Matabeleland North provincial structure between Sengezo Tshabangu and his executive that was ejected from office through a vote of no confidence and an interim team headed by Thembinkosi Sibindi.
Tsvangirai is expected to address the issue of his party’s three “rebel” councillors who were expelled in December last year for allegedly voting for Zanu PF councillor Sifiso Mpofu for the mayoral post ahead of the party’s preferred candidate Margaret Valley.
Deputy mayor Noris Nyathi, Rich Mguni (Ward 5) and Robert Salimu (Ward 8) were last month declared duly elected councillors and bona fide members of the MDC-T by the High Court after successfully challenging their expulsion.
