The Tsvangirai MDC formation is applauding a ruling by High Court judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu that a registered voter can lawfully contest in a national assembly election in any constituency in the country.
Party spokesman Obert Gutu, however says though the judge correctly interpreted the law, there’s need to amend the piece of legislation to curb abuses as some political parties may take advantage of loopholes to impose candidates in constituency where they do not belong.
Justice Bhunu made the decision during a pre-trial conference in a matter in which former Hurungwe West lawmaker Temba Mliswa was challenging the victory of Keith Guzah of Zanu PF whom he alleges contested in Hurungwe West but was not registered there.
Mliswa also accused Guzah of having a criminal record, but Justice Bhunu ruled that a criminal record was not reason enough to bar one from contesting in an election.
“That law is actually a law that can be abused versy seriously because you can have a situation where people can choose to run for office as MPs in constituencies in which they do not have vested interests,” said Gutu.
