By Trevor Saruwaka| Mutare High Court Judge, Justice J Muzenda, dismisses Councillor Frank Chitembwe’s application to stop the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) from proceeding with a by-election in Ward 10 of Mutasa RDC on the 11th of May 2019

The matter was absurdly dismissed on a technicality that the lawyers cited the CEO instead of the RDC. Justice Muzenda did not even look at the merits of the case that Clr Chitembwe’s rights were violated when the MRDC CEO announced a vacancy in his ward yet his matter is still before the courts. Clr Chitembwe appealed against the 2year sentence imposed by Mutasa Magistrate, Innocent Bepura, after being convicted on cooked up evidence by well known Zanu PF functionaries.

Our lawyers Blessing Nyamaropa and Ranga Mubata at Mutasa Magistrates Court, Chris Ndlovu and David Tandiri at Mutare High Court put up great performances despite the outrageous rulings pronounced by the two courts.

What is clear from the unfair outcomes of Clr Chitembwe’s case is that our justice system has been captured by Zanu PF. It appears like our courys simply read out the wishes of Shake Shake building occupants.

It is obvious that Clr Chitembwe unsettled Zanu PF through his hard work and grassroots-connecting activities. He also ensured that corrupt practices by Zanu PF, with the complicity of Agritex and Social Welfare, workers was stopped in his ward as a result of his tight scrutiny and oversight over government programs. Clr Chitembwe’s departure from Council is not going to translate into Zanu PF gain because his replacement from MDC -Alliance is a tried and tested senior member of the Party, Ms Rose Tanyaradzwa Mukodza. Zanu PF haina chayagona because in Ms Rose Mukodza we have another Clr Chitembwe. Ms Mukodza is going to represent Clr Chitembwe and MDC-Alliance in the 11th May 2019 by-election. Zanu PF must forget about winning in Ward 10. No amount of vote buying, lying and threatening is going to help them. Ward 10 is an MDC-ALLIANCE fortress.