By Staff Reporter
The parliament of Zimbabwe Wednesday ignored the Constitutional Court order and went on to endorse the current elections candidates nomination fees.
Last week Con Court gave parliament a seven day ultimatum to review the fees downwards after the opposition challenged them saying they were exorbitant.
The nomination fees were gazetted August last year under Statutory Instrument 144 of 2022, with the presidential candidate fees pegged at US$20,000 , up from US$1,000 paid in the last election in 2018, and US$1,000 (from US$50) for members of parliament.
The Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC) which was tasked with reviewing the fees, Wednesday issued a non adverse report on S.I 144 which clearly stipulates that candidates will pay the above mentioned amounts.
Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Prince Siyanda demanded answers from the house of assembly speaker William Moomba who dismissed the debate on the report.
“People want to know why you are doing all this. It is unfair,” Siyanda said.
Meanwhile Prominent UK-based Zimbabwean lawyer Lloyd Msipa said this elitist electoral system will have consequences.
“This move by parliament will damage any confidence left in the country’s electoral system. It creates an elitist electoral system, in which only the rich can run for public office.
“The fees are four times higher than in Kenya. The electoral systems in Swaziland, Angola and Mozambique do not require nomination fees for members of parliament.
“In a country with high unemployment and shrinking democratic space creating an elitist electoral system will have consequences,”
Zimbabwe is set to hold elections on August 23 this yearand the nomination court will sit on June 21.
