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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku has assigned four High Court judges to preside over electoral cases for the next six months. Justices Chinembiri Bhunu, Tendai Uchena, Andrew Mutema and Martin Makonese will be responsible for the Electoral Court before and after the March 27 by-election for Mt Darwin West and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe national assembly seats.

The recent appointment was done in terms of the Electoral Act and it came at a time the nation was preparing for by-elections to replace Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and former VP Joice Mujuru.

In a statement, the Judicial Service Commission said the appointment of the judges was effective from February 16, 2015 to August 2015.

“The Honourable GG Chidyausiku, Chief Justice of Zimbabwe, has in terms of Section 162 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) appointed the following judges as judges of the Electoral Court:

1. The Honourable Mr Justice CE Bhunu

2. The Honourable Mr Justice T. Uchena

3. The Honourable Mr Justice A. Mutema

4. The Honourable Mr Justice M. Makonese.

“The appointments are for a period of six months with effect from 16 February 2015 to 15 August 2015,” read the statement.

Section 162 of the Electoral Act reads:

“The Chief Justice shall, after consultation with the Judge President, appoint one or more judges of the High Court to be Judge or Judges, as the case may be, of the Electoral Court. The Electoral Court’s jurisdiction may be exercised by a Judge of the Electoral Court sitting alone or with one or more assessors appointed in terms of section one hundred and sixty-three (163).”