Z’babwe embassy wants out of Mugabe case

THE Zimbabwean embassy has withdrawn an application to intervene in the matter between South African model Gabriella Engels and Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe.

Advocate Simba Chitando‚ representing the Zimbabwean embassy‚ announced this yesterd in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, after Acting Judge Harshilabhen Koovertjie delivered judgment.

The Zimbabwean Consulalleged in his instructions to Chitando‚ which Chitando read out‚ that “various threats had been made against him [Chitando] while representing the Zimbabwean embassy”.

“The conduct of various individuals in this matter has made the Zimbabwean embassy’s future involvement in this matter undesirable.

“The Zimbabwean embassy‚ regardless of the outcome of these proceedings‚ shall no longer participate in these hearings.”

AfriForum’s lawyer Willie Spies‚ representing Engels‚ said these allegations are “absolute nonsense”.

“I think it is just an effort to taint the process to put them in a position to attack the process later,” Spies said.

If the allegations were true‚ they needed to be investigated and reported to the police, Spies said.

Koovertjie, in her judgment, referred the matter to the Opposed Motion Court.

She ordered the Zimbabwean embassy to file an affidavit within seven days to confirm if they represented Mugabe or what the basis for their intervention was.

AfriForum then has seven days to file an answering affidavit. — DDC