Chombo's divorce hearing no longer on the court roll

THE divorce case pitting Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo and his estranged wife Marian did not take off yesterday. The matter was not on the day's court roll. Harare lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa who was in possession of a notice of set down for the case sought clarification from Justice Antonia Guvava who informed her that the case was no longer on the court roll.

Ms Mtetwa, who is representing Mrs Chombo, has since filed an application seeking rescission of a decision by Judge President George Chiweshe to strike off her client's defence in the divorce case.

Justice Ben Hlatshwayo dismissed an urgent chamber application by Mrs Chombo seeking stay of the setting down of the matter unopposed. Ms Mtetwa reportedly wrote a letter to the registrar of the High Court claiming that Justice Chiweshe was "not only well-known and friendly" to Minister Chombo but a relative too.

It is reported that the said letter cites the alleged close relative between the judge president and Minister Chombo as the reason why Justice Chiweshe made an "adverse decision" against Mrs Chombo without hearing her side of the story.

Advocate Thabani Mpofu who is leading the minister's team of lawyers dismissed the claims as unfounded.

"The truth of the matter is that she (Mrs Chombo) does not want to be divorced. Instead of telling the whole world that her wish is to remain the minister's wife, she decides to undermine the judicial process by casting aspersions on the integrity of the process," said Adv Mpofu.