Staff Reporter| Rumour was rife Tuesday afternoon that former President Robert Mugabe has successfully negotiated for the acquittal of his G40 aide, Dr. Ignatius Chombo.
The contradictory reports came as Chombo’s lawyer told ZimEye that Chombo has not been acquitted at all. His lawyer, prof Lovemore Madhuku spoke to ZimEye Tuesday afternoon disputing the reports.
Prof Madhuku said the reports of Chombo being acquitted on Tuesday are not true.
While ZimEye could not trace the source of the reports, ZimEye was reliably told by other sources the development is likely political – a result of former President Robert Mugabe demanding that Chombo be released as a condition for him to endorse President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Operation Restore Order was pivoted on targeting so called criminals around former President Robert Mugabe. During the time of the first negotiations mid November last year, Chombo was one of those left out of the “Mugabe-Mnangagwa resignation deal” – he failed to escape as 50 plus other were allowed swift passage out of the country. The latter 50 include ministers Prof Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere.
But Prof says Chombo is still out on bail and there was no hearing at all either yesterday or today and there will not be one “until the 6th April 2018.” FULL INTERVIEW FOLLOWS – REFRESH THIS PAGE TO HEAR AND READ.
The development comes as the Mugabe aligned National Patriotic Front party issued a statement saying, Mnangagwa’s propaganda mouthpieces must “stop their rabid, divisive and unconstitutional attacks on President Mugabe that have gone out of control and are now threatening peace and stability in the country.
The past week has seen outrageous and desperate attacks on President Robert Mugabe by Emmerson Mnangagwa, youths of ZanuPF-Junta and its propaganda mouthpieces in the print and electronic media. Some of these attacks, such as those regarding President
Mugabe’s legally protected personal banking, are in direct violation of banking laws and a violation of his constitutional right to privacy.” – ZimEye