By Tuesday, there was still no announcement of the cash deposit, constitutionally required to be lodged with government before any presidential candidate contests the election.
It is feared this non-disclosure could prevent aspiring presidents if it is left to the last minute.
“It’s surprising that this issue has been left to the last minute,” opposition United People’s Party (UPP) president Daniel Shumba told The Zimbabwean. “We should be given enough time to mobilize resources. Can you imagine what will happen if the deposit is set at Z$500 billion?”
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman George Chiweshe requested written questions while Legal minister Patrick Chinamasa was not available for comment.
According to the Electoral Act, the deposit should be returned to the candidate or their personal representative – if there is no contested election or a contested election is declared void; the candidate dies before the date of the elections or withdraws the candidature in due time.
Also, the nominee could get half the money back if in any contested election he is successful or obtains not less than 15 percent of the total number of votes cast or if his nomination is invalid for any other reason.
“Any deposit, which is not returnable shall be paid into the general revenues of Zimbabwe,” says the law.
Post published in: News