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Mr Samukange

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
Lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange who was declared the legitimate winner of the Mudzi South National Assembly constituency, has challenged the decision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to conduct a recount of the ballots. Zec on Saturday ordered a recount in Mudzi South following complaints by the losing candidate Cde Eric Navaya that his agents were sent outside the polling station during the counting process.
The order was made in terms of Section 67 A of the Electoral Act and recounting was set for Tuesday at Makaha Primary School.
Cde Navaya alleged that the presiding officer at Kanyoka polling station moved the ballot boxes to the command centre without the company of polling agents and that the transportation of boxes delayed.

He also indicated that his agent at Chikwizo Primary School was assaulted by another agent inside the polling station.
Mr Samukange, who contested as an independent candidate in last Wednesday’s election, argued that there was no basis for the recount and he gave Zec up to 10am today to revoke the order.

In a letter delivered to Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau yesterday, Mr Samukange argued that Zec had acted unlawfully in ordering the recount.
He argued that the law required Zec to first notify all political parties and individuals who participated in the election before ordering a recount, which he said was not done.

Mr Samukange argued that Section 67A of the Act relied upon by Zec in ordering the recount was only applicable in situations where a miscounting was alleged and that Cde Navaya was actually alleging vote rigging.

Zec on Saturday ordered a recount in Mudzi South as well as Tsholotsho North where Professor Jonathan Moyo lost to MDC-T’s Rosemary Sipepa Nkomo.