Mnangagwa refuses to talk on Chikanga’s case
The Attorney-General’s Office yesterday questioned the relevance of
contacting Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Speaker of Parliament, as ordered by a
High Court judge to check whether he was willing to give evidence on the
release of a hard-core armed robber serving a 35-year prison term.
Justice George Bartlett last week ordered the Attorney-General (AG), Andrew
Chigovera, to contact Mnangagwa to find out whether he could come to court
to give oral evidence on the matter after he submitted a written affidavit.
Chigovera was said to be out of the country yesterday.
Contacted for comment, Bharat Patel, the deputy AG, initially said Mnangagwa
had not been contacted because he was still out of the country.
However, on being told that he had since returned, Patel said: “The
prosecutor was given an affidavit to present to the court and I do not think
that there is any need for further evidence by Mnangagwa. He is out of the
country and I am not aware that he is back.”
Mnangagwa yesterday remained tight lipped when asked whether he was willing
to give oral evidence on the circumstances leading to the release of George
Tanyanyiwa Chikanga, during his tenure of office as Minister of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mnangagwa hung up the phone without responding to questions posed to him.
The Speaker could not attend the court proceedings last week because he was
out of the country.