High court in eSwatini rules in favor of married women’s rights

High court in eSwatini rules in favor of married women’s rights

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre is celebrating a significant victory for married women in eSwatini, after the country’s high court ruled Friday that the existing common-law doctrine discriminates against women and denies their constitutional rights to equality. “Marital power refers to the archaic common law doctrine that a husband has…

Zambia’s court clears Lungu for a third term

Zambia’s court clears Lungu for a third term

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu is the latest African leader expected to make another bid to stay in power, after a constitutional court decision Friday that paves the way for a possible third term in 2021. Lungu, who has presided over an increasingly repressive Zambia since 2015, will be able to…

Zimbabwe court set to hear Chamisa election challenge

Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court will hear on Wednesday the presidential election results challenge filed by opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa and his Movement for Democratic Change Alliance party. The hearing moves forward in a nation on edge, following the initial July 30 election that gave Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa the slimmest…

Mnangagwa inauguration on hold as MDC files legal challenge

In Zimbabwe, the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been postponed following a legal challenge to the July 30 election that gave Mnangagwa a narrow win. “Our legal team successfully filed our court papers,” said Nelson Chamisa, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance candidate who has consistently refused to…

Lesotho court rules criminal defamation violates constitution

At a time when press freedoms are under fire in many African nations, the small southern kingdom of Lesotho took a big step forward this week as the country’s Constitutional Court ruled that criminal defamation – in this case involving a journalist – is unconstitutional. The case centered on publisher…

Liberia court ruling postpones Tuesday’s runoff, calls for inquiry

The presidential runoff election planned for Tuesday in Liberia is postponed until further notice, following a Supreme Court decision that directs the National Election Commission to investigate complaints originally filed by Liberty Party candidate Charles Brumskine. The court’s decision at the eleventh hour follows accusations made in the wake of…