Tsvangirai Lodges Court Appeal Against Dismissed Election Case

WASHINGTON DC —  Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has filed a Supreme Court appeal against a ruling dismissing his attempt to force the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to provide his party with materials used in the July 31 vote to support his presidential election petition challenging President Robert Mugabe’s resounding victory.

Justice Chinembiri Bhunu said the materials and information demanded by Mr. Tsvangirai was massive, requiring the opening of more than 9,000 ballot boxes throughout the country.

He said, ‘It is preposterous and grossly unreasonable to suggest that such information and materials could be gathered and presented to the applicant within such a short space of time to beat the deadline, even if the application was to succeed on the day of hearing’.

MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora, told VOA Studio 7 the appeal effectively puts on hold any efforts to arrest Tsvangirai’s lawyers and the former premier following Bhunu’s recommendation to the Attorney General’s Office suggesting Mr. Tsvangirai and his attorneys were in contempt of court for disparaging the judiciary.

"I can confirm that we have filed a court challenge against the ruling," he said, adding that "this in effect will stop any arrest of Tsvangirai or his lawyers."