A leading poll watchdog organisation, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) has filed a case against the President of the National Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, who has defied the court, failing to renounce his statements supporting the ruling party in contravention of the Constitution.
On May 9, 2018 the High Court of Zimbabwe gave an order against the President of the National Chiefs’ Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira instructing him to retract statements he made on October 28 and December 20, 2017 in support of a political party in contravention of Section 281 (2) of the Constitution.
The order was secured after a successful application by the ERC against the President of the National Chiefs’ Council, the National Chiefs’ Council and the Minister of Local Government, National Housing and Public Works.
“Given the clear disregard for the court order by the respondents, the ERC has been left with no other choice but to file a criminal case with the police against the President of the Chiefs’ Council for purposes of upholding the integrity of the court and that of electoral democracy in Zimbabwe,” Tawanda Chimhini, the organisation’s director said in a statement on Tuesday.
Chimhini said up to date Charumbira has remained adamant to the High Court ruling.
“To date, the court order stands ignored despite spirited efforts by the ERC to engage all parties involved to act in compliance with it,” said Chimhini.
Chimhini added that the High Court order reinforces constitutional provisions whose enforcement would contribute towards positively responding to calls for electoral reforms following questions raised about the 2018 harmonised elections.
ERC, a think tank and advocacy institution on elections and democracy in Zimbabwe, vowed to leave no unturned in its quest to improve the quality of future elections in the Southern country.
“The ERC affirms its commitment to exhausting all remedies available in Zimbabwe to improve the quality of future elections,” Chimhini said.
