By Takudzwa Changadeya
The appeal hearing for United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) President Elisabeth Valerio to contest in the upcoming August 23 elections has been set for Friday in the Electoral Court Division of the High Court in Harare.
The appeal is against the June 21 Nomination Court’s decision to reject aspiring presidential candidate Valerio’s nomination.
UZA is seeking an order directing Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to accept Valerio’s nomination papers for the polls.
In a statement, party’s national spokesperson Elvis Dzvene revealed that full payment was made to (ZEC) but her nomination papers were still refused.
“President Valerio provided bank stamped proof of her request to initiate a ZWL transfer of funds to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) bank account for the required nomination fees equivalent to US$20,000.
“UZA is challenging this decision as a violation of the constitutional rights of President Elisabeth Valerio and the party members who nominated her,” Dzvene said.
He added that: “We are confident that the High Court will uphold the principles of justice and fairness that are essential for our political system and the participation of women in political leadership.”
Another aspiring female Presidential Candidates Linda Masarira also approached the Electoral Court to appeal the decision of the Nomination Court which rejected her nominations.
Linda Masarira, who fronts the Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) had challenges in transferring nomination fees.
For Masarira, the sum was beyond their monthly limit, while Valerio had her proof of payment rejected by ZEC arguing they wanted the money to reflect before they could confirm her participation.
Meanwhile, UZA slammed the recently gazetted exorbitant fees on candidate nominations and voters roll inspection.
The electoral body announced that for a political party to field a presidential candidate, it has to fork out US$20,000 up from US$1,000.
For members of parliament the fee which was US$50 is now US$1,000.
“It’s a dark period for democracy in Zimbabwe as this development creates fertile ground for a disputed electoral process and taints the credibility of the elections body.
“With the imposition of these fees, the elections will be reserved only for elite political parties who have state funds at their disposal,” UZA said in a statement.
“Besides disadvantaging prospective political candidates, and the youth in particular, the fees will also increase voter apathy especially among women, the youth, people living with disability and the elderly.
Talking to this publication, Valerio said that fees gazetted by ZEC were designed to disenfranchise young people, the elderly, the poor as well as the independent candidates.
However writing on their Twitter handle, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights indicated that they had filed notices of appeal for Masarira and Valerio.
“On behalf of @LEADZim2023 leader @lilomatic & @uzalliance leader @PresValerio, we filed 2 notices of appeal at Electoral Court appealing against the decision of the Nomination Court, which rejected their nomination as candidates for election to the office of President in general elections scheduled for 23 August.
“We want Electoral Court to set aside the decision of the Presiding Officer of the Nomination Court, who rejected the nomination of the 2 opposition political party leaders’ nomination as candidates for election to the office of president
“We also want the Electoral Court to declare the duo as having been validly nominated as candidates for election to the office of president,” said ZLHR.
According to ZEC, women’s participation in politics declined by 3.4 %.
There are only 70 female candidates out of 637 running for the 210 National Assembly seats, which is 11%, a drop from 14,4% in 2018.
