Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has rejected a request by a private media outlet to live-stream a high-stakes legal challenge against proposed constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule.
Chief justice Elizabeth Gwaunza dismissed the application by Sources Media Network on Tuesday, stating that "no sufficient basis has been demonstrated" to warrant live coverage inside the courtroom.
The ruling comes just hours before the court is set to hear a case brought by war veterans and former opposition MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda challenging Constitutional Amendment Bill (CAB) 3.
The proposed amendments represent a significant shift in Zimbabwe's political landscape.
If passed, CAB 3 would extend the president’s term by two years to 2030 and transfer the power to elect the president from the general public to Parliament.
Reuben Zulu, one of the veterans leading the challenge, argues that the amendment process is "fundamentally flawed" and unconstitutional due to Mnangagwa’s clear conflict of interest as the primary beneficiary.
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The state, represented by advocate Sylvester Hashiti, successfully blocked the live-streaming request during a case management meeting.
Hashiti argued that consent would only be appropriate for the state-controlled national broadcaster, the ZBC.
The state also alleged that private media could be "harbouring ulterior motives" and that attorney general Virginia Mabiza required a formal court application before permission could be considered.
Chris Mhike, representing Sources Media, accused the state of blatant discrimination.
He argued that all media houses enjoy equal rights under the constitution and pointed out that the ZBC was not required to make a formal application when it live-streamed the 2018 presidential challenge brought by Nelson Chamisa.
Mhike stated that the notion of ZBC’s superiority "defeats the tenets of democracy".
Due to the late delivery of the judgment at the close of business, the media house’s legal team was unable to file a formal application in time.
The hearing—which carries far-reaching political implications for the country—will proceed on Wednesday without a live broadcast