New election regulations say anyone wanting to contest the presidential election in Zimbabwe will need to pay US $20 000.
The new rules were issued this week as part of Statutory Instrument 145 of 2022.
Payment is also required for other election positions:
- Senate and local council: US $100
- Member of parliament: US $1000
- Presidential: US $20 000
Commenting on the new fees, NCA leader and presidential candidate in the last elections (2018), Prof Lovemore Madhuku said:
Excessive, undemocratic and unconstitutional. ZEC fails to appreciate that a ” free and fair” election starts from that being a candidate must not be unaffordable to an ordinary politician. The amounts MUST be substantially reduced. US$500K for a party to field ALL candidates?
The July 2018 elections had 23 presidential candidates.