By As Zimbabwe prepares to hold its general elections next year (2018), the Zimbabwe High Court makes a new ruling where it grants Zimbabweans by birth, also called the ‘aliens’, a chance to engage and participate in the general elections, voting for the new Zimbabwe leaders.
The ruling comes after a petition filed by Sarah Kachingwe, one of the Harare residents, and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, who in their petition sought for an order from the High Court to allow Zimbabweans termed as ‘aliens’, to register to vote in the 2018, general elections.
After the petition hearings, the High Court judge, Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa passed an order to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to register the so-called ‘aliens’ as prospective voters for the 2018 harmonized elections via the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise.
‘They are Zimbabweans by birth and they should not be discriminated against,’ Judge Nyaradzo Munangati Manongwa said, in her ruling.
In this case, Zimbabweans by birth, having an alien (A) status on their National Identification cards, have a right to casting their votes, come the scheduled date for the exercise.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), has asked the aliens to bring with them their: 1) Identity Document endorsed ‘alien’ (A)
2) Birth Certificate
3) Proof of residence
‘Aliens should now go and get registered as prospective voters by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission provided that they bring along with them identity documents endorsed ‘A for Alien’ coupled with a birth certificate and proof of residence,’ the Judge emphasized.
The 2018 general elections to be held in Zimbabwe, is the first that will be run without having Robert Gabriel Mugabe on the ballot paper, running for presidency.
The former President Mugabe had however started to campaign for the post, until he was ousted and forced to resign in the very recent coup, that saw him off the seat and replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu