Zimbabweans demonstrate against Mugabe’s lawyers in SA

By Lance Guma
04 October 2006

Hundreds of Zimbabweans on Wednesday marched in Johannesburg at the offices of a law firm that is representing the Zimbabwean government in its attempts to complete the takeover of businessman Mutumwa Mawere’s business empire. Brink Cohen Le Roux attorneys, led by Frans Odendal are helping Mugabe to claim over R120 million allegedly owed by Mawere’s Southern Asbestos Sales (SAS) in export proceeds for the sale of asbestos on behalf of Shabani Mashaba Mines (SMM). Government took over SMM from Mawere using a presidential decree and the protesters are not happy the South African lawyers are helping Mugabe’s regime in pursuing the claim.

Sox Chikowore the Chairman of the Friends of Zimbabwe coalition told Newsreel they had over 200 people taking part in the demonstration. He says his group has been following the case in the courts and they wanted to expose Mugabe’s hypocrisy over the so-called black empowerment crusade. He accused Mugabe’s government of dispossessing a black businessman and then spending over R10 million in legal expenses to a white owned legal firm to complete the process. Mutumwa Mawere the businessman at the centre of the case also expressed dismay at the decision of the lawyers to represent the Zimbabwean government. He detailed how government has already pumped £138 000, US$650 000, R10 million and Z$800 million into legal fees.

Mawere is also furious the government is actually also seeking that he meet the legal and reconstruction expenses involved in the takeover. ‘Imagine someone stealing your car and then asking you to pay for fuel and for maintenance of your car, while you stand on the road hitch hiking?’ He says although a case could be made for law firms running like a business the problem with this particular law firm is that they ‘have turned themselves into the clients.’ According to Mawere the Zimbabwean government has not sent any of its representatives to any of the meetings or hearings but instead is relying on the lawyers to do everything for them.

The case is expected to show whether the South African courts will endorse Mugabe’s nationalisation of businesses as legal. Mugabe ordered the nationalisation of SMM through a presidential decree after accusing Mawere of illegally sending money to South Africa. Mugabe later unsuccessfully tried to get Mawere extradited to face jail in Zimbabwe, but Randburg magistrate Richard Myambo rejected the bid.