Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. By Reason Razao
OPPOSITION Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) president Linda Masarira has appealed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to observe political rights enshrined in the Constitution ahead of the August general elections.
Following the pronouncement by President Mnangagwa that elections will be held on August 23, 2023, Masarira said political parties should be allowed to campaign freely without police interference.
Section 67 of the Zimbabwe Constitution sets out the political liberties of Zimbabwean citizens particularly the rights to free, fair and regular elections and referendums .
Under the same, Zimbabweans have the right to form political parties or to belong to political parties of their choice.
“Dear Police, the campaign period is officially open, I am humbly requesting & demanding that police officers should respect our political rights enshrined in section 67 and allow us to campaign freely as enshrined in section 56 of the constitution of Zimbabwe,” Masarira said.
On Wednesday, President Mnangagwa proclaimed that this year’s general elections will be held on August 23.
In a Statutory Instrument 85 of 2023, Mnangagwa also set aside October 2 as the day of the runoff election to the office of President.
“Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do, by this proclamation….fix the 23rd day of August, 2023, as the day of the election to the office of President, the election of members of the National Assembly and election of councillors,” read SI 85.
“That is to say, as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 46(17)(c) or 125(4)(b) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] for the election to the office of President or any such members of the National Assembly or councillors;
“And (e) fix the 2nd day of October, 2023, as the day of the runoff election to the office of President, that is to say as the day on which a poll shall be taken if such a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 38(1)(a)(iii) of the Electoral Act.
According to Mnangagwa, (a) in relation to the election to the office of President referred to in section 92(1) of the Constitution, determine that a nomination court shall sit on June 21, 2023, commencing at 10 o’clock in the morning, in the High Court, Court A, Mapondera building, Samora Machel Avenue, Harare.
In relation to the election of the two hundred and ten members of the National Assembly, in terms of section 124(1)(a) of the Constitution, a nomination court shall sit on June 21.
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