The Movement for Democratic Change went to town when High Court Judge Andrew Mutema nullified the results of the 31 July Kwekwe Central elections saying this was a major victory proving that the elections were rigged but this was apparently a hollow victory as it was reversed two days later.
Judge Mutema issued a default judgment on 2 December setting aside the results of the elections won by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s Masango Matambanadzo who beat the MDC’s Blessing Chebundo who had held the seat since 2000.
Chebundo lodged the election petition.
Matambanadzo’s lawyers, who did not attend the hearing together with their client, said they had not received notice of the hearing due to an administrative failure.
They lodged an application to have the order set aside pending finalisation of Chebundo’s application.
Justice Nokuthula Moyo granted the urgent application on 4 December suspending Mutema’s order. This meant that Matambanadzo would remain Kwekwe Central MP until the matter is finalised.
Election petitions must be decided within six months of their lodging which means the case must be finalised by mid February.
The reversal of the judgment did not stop the MDC national council from issuing a statement on 6 December calling on the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to revisit their positions on the 31 July elections.
The two organisations endorsed the elections which the MDC claims were rigged.
In its statement the MDC said: “By ruling that the Kwekwe Central parliamentary election was rigged, the Bulawayo High Court effectively confirmed that the national election was a huge farce, which was manipulated and corrupted by the military and intelligence to give ZANU-PF a stolen victory.
“The shenanigans and dirty tactics that were employed in Kwekwe Central are similar to what transpired in most constituencies across the country.
“The Council called upon SADC and AU to revisit their positions on the July 31 elections, now that the court has confirmed that the elections were rigged and considering the response which has been very clear and sharp from the business community, investment vehicles and the economy in general.”
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