High Court Suspends Trial of “King Munhumutapa” Over Procedural Irregularities

The High Court has ordered a temporary suspension of trial proceedings against Timothy Chiminya, who refers to himself as King Munhumutapa, after raising concerns over procedural irregularities in his prosecution for allegedly insulting or undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa, reported the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Friday.

Chiminya was arrested on 16 December 2024 and charged under section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].
Prosecutors allege he usurped presidential powers by appointing and purporting to dethrone traditional chiefs — functions constitutionally reserved for the Head of State.

Chiminya’s trial began at the Harare Magistrates Court before Magistrate Winfilda Tiyatara, who dismissed his earlier application seeking to halt proceedings.

He had argued that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had failed to provide a valid Certificate of Authority to Prosecute, as required by law.

Chiminya, represented by lawyer Gift Mtisi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, challenged the trial’s legality, saying the NPA only provided a letter signed by a prosecutor identified as Shonhayi, rather than an official certificate from Prosecutor-General Loice Matanda-Moyo.

The accused argued that the absence of such valid authorisation contravened section 34 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which mandates formal approval by the Prosecutor-General in certain prosecutions.

He also claimed the move infringed on his constitutional rights to equal protection before the law and to a fair trial, under sections 56 and 69 of the Constitution respectively.

Magistrate Tiyatara dismissed the objection on 13 June 2025, ruling that Shonhayi’s letter was sufficient. She proceeded to set the trial for 3 July 2025.

In response, Chiminya sought a judicial review of Tiyatara’s ruling at the High Court. On 23 July, Justice Rodgers Manyangadze ruled in his favour, setting aside the magistrate’s decision and ordering the suspension of any proceedings until proper prosecutorial authority is obtained from the Prosecutor-General.

Justice Manyangadze further ruled that any trial conducted without such authorisation would be deemed invalid and must restart once the correct documentation is secured.

Chiminya is scheduled to appear again at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday, 28 July 2025, where the NPA has pledged to furnish the presiding magistrate, Kudzai Mthombeni, with the appropriate Certificate of Authority to Prosecute.