A legal expert has opined that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s statement on Thursday congratulating newly-elected MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora places Zimbabwe’s judges in an unenviable position if his victory is challenged in court.
University of Kent law lecturer Alex Magaisa said by asserting that the opposition MDC-T “held its elective congress, in full compliance with, and fulfilment of, court judgments” Mnangagwa has sent a clear message to the candidates if Mwonzora’s victory is challenged. Magaisa wrote on Twitter:
The conductor of the orchestra has spoken and, as they say, finished all the sports. A declaration like a judge – ukuthi “in full compliance with, and fulfilment of, court judgments”.
A clear and unambiguous message to the candidates and to the judges should there ever be litigation!
In his congratulatory message to Mwonzora a few hours after it was announced that he will commence his annual leave on 1 January, Mnangagwa said:
A few days ago, the opposition MDC-T party held its elective congress, in full compliance with, and fulfilment of, court judgments.
Let me take this opportunity to formally and personally congratulate Senator Douglas Mwonzora for prevailing at that Congress.
Even before the MDC-T concluded voting at its extraordinary congress (EOC) on Sunday, former acting president Thokozani Khupe announced that she had suspended Mwonzora and declared the whole process null and void.
Various legal commentators have also challenged the legality of the EOC on the grounds that the delegates could not form a quorum.