By Paul Nyathi|Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze on Wednesday granted an order in favour of Elton Steers Mangoma and his Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe party represented by ZLHR lawyers against Chief Fortune Charumbira, National Council of Chiefs and Local Government Minister, where the Judge banned all traditional leaders from partisan politics.

Justice Mawadze, sitting at Masvingo High Court ruled further that:

The President of Chiefs Council – Chief Fortune Charumbira, and the National Chiefs Council (representing all 282 Chiefs in Zimbabwe) is banned and prohibited from making further political statements on their involvement or allegiance on any public platform.

All traditional leaders who include chiefs, head persons or village heads as provided in section 280(2) of the Constitution, must not be involved in partisan politics as this is a violation of the right to a free and fair election as provided in section 67 of the Constitution.

Conducting of campaigns on behalf of [any party] by traditional leaders was declared unconstitutional and a violation of the right not to be treated unfairly in a discriminatory manner on bases of political affiliation.

The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is ordered to initiate processes to set up the integrity and Ethics Committee as provided in section 287 of the Constitution. The integrity and Ethics Committee is mandated with developing and enforcing integrity and ethical conduct on the part of traditional leaders and to deal with complaints against traditional leaders.