News / National
Press barred from Mugabe ally's divorce proceedings
28 Jun 2011 at 06:17hrs | Views
LOCAL Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday applied for an interdict to bar the media from covering proceedings of his high-profile divorce with his estranged wife Marian.
The minister argues that he is entitled to his privacy and should be protected.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase, the minister also argued that the continued publicity would prejudice the trial.
The media, Adv Mpofu argued, would influence proceedings hence the interests of justice would not prevail.
A trial for the divorce case, in which Minister Chombo and his wife are fighting over matrimonial property, had been set to commence in an open court yesterday before High Court judge Justice Antonia Guvava.
However, it could not proceed as the minister applied for an interdict to bar the Press from covering the civil trial.
Ms Beatrice Mtetwa of Mtetwa and Nyambirai law firm, representing Mrs Chombo, opposed the application saying the minister was a public figure.
The minister argues that he is entitled to his privacy and should be protected.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase, the minister also argued that the continued publicity would prejudice the trial.
The media, Adv Mpofu argued, would influence proceedings hence the interests of justice would not prevail.
A trial for the divorce case, in which Minister Chombo and his wife are fighting over matrimonial property, had been set to commence in an open court yesterday before High Court judge Justice Antonia Guvava.
However, it could not proceed as the minister applied for an interdict to bar the Press from covering the civil trial.
Ms Beatrice Mtetwa of Mtetwa and Nyambirai law firm, representing Mrs Chombo, opposed the application saying the minister was a public figure.
Source - TH