About fifteen opposition MPs in Zimbabwe have filed a court petition saying that they were tricked into forfeiting their parliamentary seats.
The seat losses had come after a man insincerely claiming to be the party’s secretary had stated that the MPs were no longer members.
On receipt of the fake letter, Zimbabwe’s parliamentary speaker announced the 15 seats empty.
The Resultant by-elections would possibly hand ruling party Zanu-PF the majority [vote] it needs to revise the constitution.
The letter had been signed by “Sengezo Tshabangu” who claimed to be the secretary general for Citizens Coalition for Change–CCC, the main opposition party in Zimbabwe
It was filled with grammatical errors.
Meanwhile, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, had asked speaker, Jacob Mudenda to ignore the letter, saying that the party had no secretary general and had not removed or recalled any MP.
But despite the opposition leader’s request, Mr Mudenda, a Zanu-PF MP, announced that the 15 seats were henceforth vacant, in a letter to the electoral commission.
The affected CCC MPs had filed a court appeal on Tuesday.
The case will most likely worsen the political tensions, which have been running high in the southern African nation since the controversial presidential elections held in August 2023.
Zanu-PF, the ruling party has been in power for over 40 years, and they had clinched a majority in parliament, but they unfortunately, fell a few lawmakers short of the number necessary to change the constitution.
The CCC had reported that since the elections were held, over a dozen people in support of the party, including MPs and councillors, and they have been arrested on false charges.
