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Peter Matika, @petematika

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has declared United Zimbabwe Alliance party leader Ms Elisabeth Isabel Valerio a duly nominated Presidential candidate to participate in the forthcoming harmonised elections following a recent court ruling in her favour.

The inclusion of her name in the ballot papers follows her successful appeal to have her nomination as Presidential candidate in the August 23 election accepted after the High Court reversed the ZEC decision to decline her nomination.

In a statement on Wednesday, ZEC chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana confirmed the latest development.

“It is hereby notified that following an order of the Electoral Court sitting in Harare, issued on the 19th of July 2023, Ms Elisabeth Isabel Valerio, a candidate sponsored by the United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) party, is hereby declared a duly nominated Presidential candidate. Polling shall take place on Wednesday, 23 August 2023 from 7am to 7pm for the purpose of electing persons to office of President,” he said.

Ms Valerio becomes the only female Presidential candidate contesting for the highest office in the land against 10 male candidates, who all successfully filed their nomination papers last month.

Last month, she took ZEC to the Electoral Court over the refusal to approve her nomination papers as the August 23 Presidential candidate.

Though Ms Valerio had provided bank-stamped proof of her request to initiate a ZWL transfer of funds to the ZEC bank account for the required nomination fees equivalent to US$20 000, her nomination papers were still rejected.

She challenged the ZEC decision as a violation of her constitutional rights as UZA president and her party members who nominated her.

Ms Valerio becomes the only female Presidential candidate contesting for the highest office in the land against 10 male candidates, who all successfully filed their nomination papers last month.

Other candidates are President Mnangagwa of ZANU PF, Joseph Makamba Busha of Free Zim Congress, Nelson Chamisa of CCC, Trust Chikohora of ZCPD, Blessing Kasiyamhuru of ZIPP, Professor Lovemore Madhuku of NCA, Wilbert Mubaiwa of NPC, Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa of UANC, Douglas Mwonzora of MDC and Wilson Harry Peter of DOP.