The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe declared Nelson Chasima, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), illegitimate on Tuesday. The MDC is the largest opposition party in Zimbabwe.

Thokozani Khuphe brought the lawsuit against the MDC and Chasima in 2018. Khuphe served as the MDC’s Deputy President for several years after the MDC’s Congress elected her to the rule in October 2014. In July 2016, Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC’s founder and leader, appointed Chasima to the role of Deputy President. After Tsvangirai’s death in 2018, the MDC appointed Chasima as the Acting President. Khuphe protested, arguing that as the elected Deputy President, she should lead the MDC. She brought the lawsuit against the MDC and Chasima in 2018.

All of the justices currently sitting on Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court were appointed either by late President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe, or his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa. This has led to accusations that the ruling is an attempt to destabilize the MDC, and that Khuphe is a surrogate of the ruling party. Some experts believe the ruling could be used by the government to financially starve the MDC.

The court has ordered Khuphe to hold an MDC Congress within three months to elect a new president. Given that members of the MDC question the legitimacy of the decision and Khuphe’s authority to hold the required election, it is unlikely that the election will resolve any of the issues.