Zanu-PF’s secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana has defended the government’s decision to bar Nelson Chamisa’s South African lawyers by denying them certificates of exemption or work permits. Speaking at the Constitutional Court hearing into Nelson Chamisa’s presidential challenge, Mangwana said,
In order for you to work in another country, you need to comply with the laws of that country. I do understand the lawyers also had challenges with the immigration. I cannot just go to South Africa and start practising without complying with South Africa’s domestic laws.
It is not deliberate for the government to stop them from working in this country. There is no automatic right of audience in Southern African Development Community (SADC). If I must practice law in South Africa, I should comply with its laws. There are lawyers in Zimbabwe. We have competent lawyers in this country. If they do not have a work permit, they cannot just jump into this country and start practising.
Ironically, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi had previously stated that the government was not going to block Chamisa’s foreign lawyers from representing him.
The Constitutional Court decision is expected tomorrow at 2 pm.
More: New Zimbabwe
they have been like this all along. very deceptive and manupilative. they have been so since they forced Joshua Nkomo into a guns blazing unity accord.
unongotaurawozvisina maturo iwe wadyeiko?