Zim presidential hopefuls drag ZEC to court

HARARE - Several Zimbabwean presidential hopefuls dragged both government and the Zimbabwe Elections Commission to court this week.

The candidates say the fees to run for the elections are simply too high and want them declared unconstitutional and discriminatory.

READ: Human Rights NGO's label Zimbabwe polls a farce

Those who want to contest have to pay around R375,000 while it costs nearly R20,000 just to become an MP.

Eleven presidential candidates, including incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa and main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, successfully filed their registration papers this week.

READ: Zimbabwe Elections | Voters roll in shambles - Chamisa

Two hopefuls Linda Masarira and Elizabeth Valerio -- who failed to come up with the registration fees -- took authorities to court with the help of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

But Zimbabwe's Justice Minster, Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is also Mnangagwa's election agent, insists the registration fees are fair.

* eNCA correspondent Pindai Dube reports.