Aspiring presidential candidate, Saviour Kasukuwere has been barred from contesting the 2023 Presidential elections in Zimbabwe by the High Court.

It was high Court judge Justice David Mangota on Wednesday the 12 of July who nullified Kasukuwere’s nomination as a presidential candidate.

The Zimbabwe court said Kasukuwere was out of the country for over 18 months and therefore ceased to be a registered voter.

The Head of Communications & Stakeholder Management for Kasukuwere’s “technical committee” for his campaign, Ali Naka tweeted:

“We note the current developments regarding the Candidature of @Hon_Kasukuwere from the Regime. We are not surprised, not shaken! This is just the beginning. An official statement will be issued shortly. Fasten your seatbelt. Victory is Certain. Hasta la victoria siempre!”

The ruling comes after a ZANU PF member Lovedale Mangwana approached the High Court seeking to block Kasukuwere from contesting for the presidency on 23 August.

He argued that Kasukuwere, who is in self-imposed exile in South Africa, is not eligible to contest for the presidency having been out of the country for 18 months.

According to his draft order, Mangwana wanted it declared:

“That the decision of the nomination court sitting at Harare on June 22, 2023, to accept the first respondent’s nomination paper and candidature (for) election to the office of President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in the elections scheduled to be conducted on August 23, 2023, is conduct which is in violation of applicant’s constitutional rights as set out in sections 56(1), 67(2)(a) and 67(3)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013.

“That the decision of the nomination court sitting at Harare on June 22, 2023, to accept first respondent’s nomination paper and candidature for election to the office of President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in the elections scheduled to be conducted on August 23, 2023, is declared null and void and of no force and effect and hereby set aside.

“That first respondent is not a candidate for election to the office of President of Zimbabwe in the elections scheduled to be conducted on August 23, 2023.

Former Cabinet minister, Kasukuwere and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) were cited as respondents.

The self-exiled Kasukuwere is among 11 candidates who successfully filed their nomination papers to contest in the Presidential election on 23 August.

The other aspiring candidates are President Mnangagwa of ZANU PF, Joseph Makamba Busha of Free Zim Congress, Nelson Chamisa of CCC, Trust Chikohora of ZCPD and Blessing Kasiyamhuru of ZIPP.

Others are Lovemore Madhuku of NCA, Wilbert Mubaiwa of NPC, Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa of UANC, Douglas Mwonzora of MDT and Harry Peter Wilson of DOP.