Nelson Chamisa’s South African legal representatives have applauded Thabani Mpofu for how he handled the presidential challenge at the Constitutional Court. The South African lawyers said that Mpofu had done spectacularly considering that he had been forced to argue portions which were originally meant to be argued by the South Africans. The lawyers spoke out against the political gamesmanship which resulted in Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi denying them permits to appear before the court. Speaking to The Zimbabwe Independent, Advocate Dali Mpofu said,
The client had already expressed his choice to which one of us should be making submissions and we had divided up the arguments. My colleague here (Tembeka Ngcukaitobi) was going to deal with a certain section; I was going to deal with another and Advocate Mpofu as well. So it does obviously affect that planning. It becomes clear that the plan is not going to work. Until last night (Tuesday) we didn’t sleep, preparing on the basis that perhaps this morning that sanity would prevail, but unfortunately that did not happen.
Even this morning (Wednesday), it was made clear that as far as the court was concerned everything was ready but the politicians chose not to grant us. Our colleague Thabani Mpofu did an amazing job under the circumstances. He was able to improvise from our original plan. We are quite satisfied, this is not actually a difficult case. It is an important case because of the significance but, as far as the legal issues are concerned, it is a simple case.
Justice Minister Ziyambi, who also served as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chief elections agent during the elections, made an about turn and denied the South Africans permits despite previously saying that he would not block Chamisa’s lawyers.
The Constitutional Court verdict is expected later on today.
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More: The Zimbabwe Independent
Mkosho Dali—we know you advocating cases of demonstrating students— you areout of your depth in Zim and you know yourself that our education is far superior to your matric!!!
MDC Alliance have already started to blame the Constitution Court so that they will have an excuse if they lose the case, I know they are expecting a defeat.