Mandi Chimene loses War Vets top job to Mutsvangwa

The Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Mandiitawepi Chimene’s High Court application seeking the nullification order indentifying ex-minister, Christopher Mutsvangwa as the legitimate leader of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has been dismissed with costs.

High Court judge, Justice Davison Moses Foroma threw out with costs Chimene’s application challenging Justice Happious Zhou’s order barring her from masquerading as the interim substantive leader of the war veterans association.

In February last year, the High Court interdicted Chimene from issuing press statements on behalf of the association and its leadership.

In her latest court action, Chimene sought the reversal of the February 2016 court decision on the basis that the judgement against her was erroneously granted in her absence and she was never served with court papers.

However, before the matter commenced this Wednesday, Joshua Chirambwe, who came in representing the applicant, sought to convince the court to postpone the matter as he was under instruction to inform the court that  Chimene had sought the services of her lawyer of choice who was yet to be briefed on the matter.

Justice Foroma declined the postponement, leading to Chirambwe insisting that he could not proceed to make submissions as he was just a corresponding attorney to the case.

Edmore Mhlekiwa, who was representing the war veterans body called on the court to dismiss the case with costs as there was no appearance from  Chimene following the withdrawal of Chirambwe.

Chimene was called three times and was found unavailable resulting in the court throwing out her case with costs over none appearance. zbc