Saviour Kasukuwere, a former member of Zimbabwe’s ruling party ZANU-PF, has announced that he will return to Zimbabwe to launch his presidential election campaign, despite facing two outstanding warrants of arrest.
Kasukuwere, who fled to South Africa in 2019, is one of 11 candidates running for president in the August 23 elections. However, authorities accuse him of absconding court and failing to surrender his passport in 2019.
Kasukuwere’s campaign team chair, Walter Mzembi, has accused the Mnangagwa administration of “weaponising” the law against political rivals. Mzembi claims the only legal matter against Kasukuwere was dismissed by the high court.
There are concerns within ZANU-PF that Kasukuwere’s candidacy could split the party vote and benefit the opposition. Kasukuwere plans to organize buses to bring Zimbabweans in neighboring countries to vote on August 23.
