By Staff Reporter
THE Constitutional Court has ordered parliament to relook Statutory Instrument 144 of 2022 which set the current nomination fees for August 2023 elections.
The fees gazzetted were; USD$20 000 for presidential candidates and USD$1 000 for parliamentary candidates.
Nationalists Alliance Party leader, Devine Mhambi Hove challenged the nomination fees arguing they were exorbitant and argued that Parliament failed to consider if the law used was in contravention with the constitution.
The matter was heard by a panel of seven judges on Friday which ordered parliament to review the fees within a week.
Hove was represented by his lawyer professor Lovemore Madhuku.
Meanwhile experts have criticised the unfair and exorbitant nomination fees saying it was a Zanu PF strategy to limit participation in the upcoming general elections.
Opposition MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora welcomed the ruling.
“Great ruling by ConCourt on the exorbitant Nomination Fees. Parliament has been ordered to re-look at the very unconstitutional statutory instrument.
“Thank you Professor Madhuku and your colleagues in POLAD for the job well done. Aluta continua.” He said.
Civic societies have since petitioned the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) over the nomination fees.
