By Own Correspondent| The trial of former president Robert Mugabe’s son in law Simba Chikore could collapse after a key witness in the trial refused to testify.

Philipa Magnify Philips, a Harare lawyer, wrote to prosecutors to advise them that Chikore was her client and she was constrained by a lawyer-client relationship.

This development resulted in the postponment of the case to March 8 and the presiding magistrate Victoria Mashamba warning the State that it risks losing the case if it fails to bring another witness next time.

Philips was the first person to be called by Bertha Tsitsi Zakeyo, who alleges she was illegally detained by Chikore and security guard Simbarashe Mutimbe.

Zakeyo alleges that she was illegally detained after she refused to sign papers dismissing her as Zimbabwe Airways’ company secretary.