HARARE, (CAJ News) – THE deadlock between the government and civil society organisations over the holding of by-elections in Zimbabwe remains unresolved and is playing out in the courts. By-elections have been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak early last year. The High Court Justice Siyabona Musithu earlier this week quizzed lawyers representing President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Health and Child Care Minister, Constantino Chiwenga, and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for their alleged bureaucratic stance in not lifting the suspension of by-elections. This is despite the government easing the lockdown. Chiwenga, then in his capacity as the acting president, announced the ban, which was challenged in the High Court.