Chamisa and Khupe back to the drawing board

The Supreme Court has today referred the case over the party ownership wrangle between Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe to the High Court for trial.

The Nelson Chamisa faction of the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai took Thokozani Khupe, Obert Gutu and Abednigo Bhebhe to court to stop them from using the MDC-T name and symbol.

The case was initially heard by Justice Francis Bere at the High Court in Bulawayo. Bere ruled that the case was not urgent and that the parties should first resolve the constitutional crisis within the party.

The Chamisa faction appealed Bere’s ruling and Chief Justice Luke Malaba ruled that the case must be heard as an urgent matter today.

According to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the bench today ruled by consent of the two parties that the judgment of Justice Francis Bere should be set aside.

The bench also said the High Court must determine whether or not there are two MDC-T parties or not, and whether Khupe, Gutu and Bhebhe are entitled to use the name, symbol logo and trademarks of the MDC-T.

Supreme Court judges Paddington Garwe, Antonia Guvava and Anne-Marie Gowora presided over the case.

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