PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are today expected to finalise the appointment of a new Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson following the resignation of Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe last week with names of those likely to take over being bandied around.
Report by Moses Matenga
As reported by NewsDay last month, Justice Mutambanengwe finally resigned last Tuesday, citing health reasons.
Appointment of his successor is likely to trigger a feud between the two leaders as they fight to control the critical institution mandated to run elections.
According to sources, front runners for the job include former judges Moses Chinhengo and Wilson Sandura, as well as ex-Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson Reginald Austin.
However, some of the likely candidates were said to have been rejected by both Zanu PF and the MDC-T for their perceived “political inclinations” and it remains to be seen who Mugabe and Tsvangirai will settle for.
Sandura, according to sources in the judiciary service, contributed immensely to the system in his 28-year service. He resigned in 2011 at the age of 70.
At the opening of the judicial year this year, fellow judges described him as “a brilliant judicial officer who independently passed numerous important judgments without fear or favour and would not hesitate arriving at decisions contrary to that of the majority of his brother and sister judges”.
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Sandura rose to prominence as chairperson of the Sandura Commission that probed and unearthed the involvement of top government ministers in what became known as the Willowgate Motor Scandal.
Chinhengo, on the other hand, left his mark in the sector after passing unbiased rulings, even against the State at the height of farm invasions.
He left to work in Botswana as a judge before coming back as a drafter of the Copac constitution.
On Friday, Tsvangirai confirmed that today, the new Zec boss would be appointed.
“On Monday we will appoint a new Zec chairman. We need one that will add legitimacy to the election . . . with any transition there are those who fear what will happen to them,” Tsvangirai said.
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said: “The issue will be dealt with later after the party meets on the matter. I cannot give you the names of who the party proposes now.”
Tsvangirai and Mugabe are also expected to discuss the issue of soldiers’ alleged interference in the political processes while ordinary citizens were being denied access to register as voters.
