APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The High Court has cleared opposition United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) leader Elisabeth Valerio to contest in presidential elections scheduled for August, making her the only female candidate among 12 people aspiring for the right to occupy the State House in Harare.
High Court judge Samuel Deme on Wednesday granted an application by Valerio in which she had challenged the decision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to reject her nomination papers in June.
Her nomination papers were allegedly rejected on the grounds that she had failed to meet the deadline.
It was alleged that the UZA leader’s nomination fee payment did not reflect in ZEC’s bank account before the close of nominations.
This technicality became the basis for the rejection of her candidacy.
Valerio becomes the sole female candidate in a field of 12 presidential aspirants for the August 23 elections that will also see Zimbabweans choosing members of the National Assembly and local government councillors.
The presidential poll is expected to be a two-horse race between incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa and main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa.
Other presidential aspirants include independent candidate Saviour Kasukuwere, Mugabe-era minister and apologist, as well as Gwinyai Muzorewa of the United African National Congress.
Muzorewa is the young brother of the prime minister of the short-lived Zimbabwe-Rhodesia that existed from 1 June 1979 to 18 April 1980 as part of an “internal settlement” between the white-led government in the then Rhodesia and moderate African nationalist parties not involved in the liberation war. Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, however, lacked international recognition..
JN/APA