Diaspora vote challenge hearing today

THE Constitutional Court (ConCourt) is today set to hear an application filed by three Zimbabweans, who are challenging some restrictive provisions of the Electoral Act, which prevent citizens living outside the country from participating in the country’s electoral processes.

The matter was set down for hearing after Chief Justice Luke Malaba made a determination on January 18 this year, which allowed the Diasporans direct access to the apex court to file an application demanding the right to vote.

Gabriel Shumba, Sibonile Mfumisi, who are both based in South Africa, and Darlington Nyambiya, who lives in Britain, are seeking an order compelling Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), among other respondents, to facilitate the amendment of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) and put appropriate measures so as to enable Zimbabweans living and working abroad to participate in the country’s electoral processes.

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