1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio

any time after the publication of the notice of election and the closing of the nomination court on
the day, fixed as nomination day.
A deposit must also be paid upon nomination, which is forfeited if the poll takes place and the
number of valid votes cast for an unsuccessful candidate is less than one-fifth of the number of
valid votes cast for the successful candidate. The Nomination Court sat on the 14 th to the 15 th
of February 2008 with ZESN fielding observers in all venues of the nomination court sittings of
the presidential, senatorial, parliamentary and local government candidates.
Four presidential candidates had lodged in their nomination papers by close of day with ZANU
PF’s Robert Mugabe filing his papers through Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC’s Morgan
Tsvangirai lodged through Nelson Chamisa and Simba Makoni [an Independent] filling his
papers in person while another independent candidate, Langton Towungwana managed to file
his papers before the nomination court closed at 1600hrs. Four prospective candidates had
their papers rejected by the court, namely, Daniel Shumba of the United People‘s Party, Ndlovu
of the Peace Action Freedom for All, William Gwata of the Christian Democratic Party and
Advocate Justin Chihota] had their papers rejected by the court, for among other reasons, late
submission. In the case of Daniel Shumba and Advocate Chihota, it was due to inadequate
documents.
However while nomination processes were largely transparent, several defects were noted.
Since little time was given between the proclamation and the nomination day, political parties
were not given an opportunity to decide who should represent them in each constituency. The
nomination date was set before the finalisation of the delimitation exercise, yet the nomination
process must be conducted based on ward voters’ roll.
There were concerns with multiple candidates from same political parties attempting to file
nomination papers, developments that resulted in sporadic intra-party violence at nomination
courts. Also common was the rejection or disqualification of nomination papers on avoidable
reasons such as inadequacy of papers, candidates being nominated by persons who are not
registered as voters, or the prospective candidate’s name not appearing on the voters’. The
use of manual systems [use of hard copies of the voters’ rolls to verify registration of
candidates and supporters], limited use of computers, and use of small, often cramped venues
as nomination courts invariably limited public access to the nomination process.
By the end of the nomination process, ZANU PF had fielded 217 candidates in the 210 House
of Assembly constituencies. It had managed to field candidates in all but two [ Mtoko North and
Mkoba] of the published 208 constituencies. However the nomination results for Glen View
North and Muzarabani South did not appear on the official results schedule released by ZEC.
The list also showed that apart from failing to field candidates in two constituencies, ZANU PF
had nine constituencies where they fielded more than one candidate. Two candidates were
nominated for each of Sunningdale, Makoni North, Makoni West, Chivi North, Gutu South,
Masvingo Central, Zaka Central, Mtoko East and Gutu West while three candidates were
nominated for Glen View South.
The MDC faction managed to field 200 House of Assembly candidates while failing to field
candidates in 17 constituencies [Chitungwiza North, Harare West, Makoni North, Dangamvura-
Chikanga, Murehwa West, Mtoko East, Chakari, Masvingo Central, Mwenezi West, Zaka North,
Tsholotsho North, Tsholotsho South, Gwanda South, Gwanda North, Matobo South and
Chirumanzu-Zibabgwe]. The formation also had double entries in 11 constituencies
[Chirumanzu, Gweru Urban, Vhungu, Shurugwi North, Zvishavane-Runde, Zvishavane-Ngezi,
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