Ten new Zimbabwean senators were sworn into office earlier today despite a pending urgent court challenge filed in the Constitutional Court. The swearing-in ceremony took place before the Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda, following President Emmerson Mnangagwa's appointment of the 10 members under the newly enacted Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3. This came as Bulawayo-based activist Thamsanqa Ncube and pressure group Ibhetshu LikaZulu filed an urgent application (case reference CCZ284/26) on August 24, challenging Mnangagwa’s action as unconstitutional, unlawful and unprocedural. The respondents are Mnangagwa, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza, and the 10 senators. The applicants argue that the appointments are unconstitutional, unlawful, and unprocedural. They contend that Section 120(1)(e) of the amended Constitution requires the President to appoint these specific senators based strictly on "professional skills and other competencies" after consultation with the National Assembly, but accuse him of instead packing the upper house with ruling Zanu PF politicians, who are his political loyalists.