In a significant legal ruling, the High Court of Zimbabwe has removed Douglas Mwonzora as the president of the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T). The decision, handed down by Justice Hapias Zhou, declared the party’s December 2022 congress null and void, instructing the MDC-T to conduct a fresh congress within six months. The judgment follows a longstanding dispute over the legitimacy of the party’s leadership and electoral processes.
Douglas Mwonzora first ascended to the presidency of MDC-T after winning the extraordinary congress held in December 2020. He defeated Thokozani Khupe, Elias Mudzuri, and Morgen Komichi in an election fraught with controversy. Khupe and Komichi walked out of the voting process, accusing Douglas Mwonzora’s faction of employing violence and manipulating the voters’ roll to secure an unfair advantage. Mudzuri, too, exited the congress shortly after, raising further questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Following this disputed election, Mudzuri and three other applicants filed a case in the High Court, challenging the validity of the 2020 congress and seeking a court order for a fresh election. Their legal argument was based on claims that the congress was not conducted by the MDC-T constitution and thus lacked legitimacy.
On Friday, February 28, Justice Zhou ruled in favor of Mudzuri and his co-applicants. The court found that the December 2022 congress did not adhere to the party’s constitutional requirements, rendering it invalid. “The purported National Congress held in December 2020 by the second respondent as the National Congress of the first respondent be and is hereby declared null and void for noncompliance with the first respondent’s Constitution,” reads part of the ruling.
The court further ordered that a new National Congress be held within six months, supervised by an independent election commission as outlined in the MDC-T constitution. This decision represents a major setback for Douglas Mwonzora, who has faced growing opposition within the party.
Despite the protests and accusations of electoral fraud, voting during the 2020 congress continued late into the night, culminating in Douglas Mwonzora being declared the winner with 883 votes. His rivals performed poorly: Khupe received 118 votes, Mudzuri secured 14, and Komichi managed only 9 votes. However, the allegations of irregularities continued to cast a shadow over the election.
The disputes within MDC-T escalated further in 2022 when the party held an ordinary congress on December 18. During this congress, the party leadership endorsed Douglas Mwonzora as the sole presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections. Additionally, the congress confirmed Chief Ndlovu as the first vice president and Paurine Mpariwa as the second vice president, both of whom were elected unopposed.
Apart from invalidating the 2022 congress, the High Court ruling also imposed financial penalties on Douglas Mwonzora and his associates. The court mandated that he and the other respondents bear the costs of the legal proceedings, adding a financial burden to their political setbacks. “The Respondents shall jointly and severally, the one paying and the other being absolved, pay the costs. ZHOU J: Lawman Law Chambers, applicants’ legal practitioners; Mwonzora & Associates, respondents’ legal practitioners,” the ruling concludes.
With the court’s ruling, MDC-T is now required to organize a fresh congress under the supervision of an independent election body. This presents an opportunity for the party to resolve its internal disputes and restore its credibility. However, the challenge remains in ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process that satisfies all factions within the party.
Douglas Mwonzora’s removal as president marks a significant moment in the ongoing battle for control of MDC-T. The ruling not only reshapes the party’s leadership dynamics but also sets a precedent for how internal party disputes can be resolved through legal avenues. As MDC-T navigates this turbulent period, the coming months will be crucial in determining the party’s future direction and its role in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
In other news – Bail ruling for journalist Blessed Mhlanga delayed to Friday.
The bail ruling for Blessed Mhlanga, a senior reporter with Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), has been postponed to Friday, February 28, 2025, at noon. The decision, initially scheduled for today, was delayed due to the unavailability of Magistrate Farai Gwatima, who is attending a funeral.
Blessed Mhlanga, who is facing charges of transmitting a data message to incite public violence, appeared in court today, February 27, for the bail ruling. However, Magistrate Gwatima was unable to deliver his ruling as planned, leading to the rescheduling of the matter. Read More
