Lawyers clash on 2030 ConCourt case

A simmering legal and political storm has erupted in Zimbabwe's legal circles as a bitter dispute unfolds between lawyers involved in the high-profile Constitutional Court case challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa's potential term extension to 2030.

The case, filed by Matabeleland pressure group Ibhetshu LikaZulu and its leader Mbuso Fuzwayo, has now been thrown into disarray following the dramatic withdrawal of lead counsel Method Ndlovu. Sources say Ndlovu quit the matter citing a breakdown of trust, non-payment of legal fees, and concerns over reputational damage stemming from a dispute with former minister Jonathan Moyo, whom Ndlovu alleges played a central role in orchestrating the litigation.

Tensions escalated after Nqobani Sithole of Sithole Chambers, the instructing lawyer for Fuzwayo and Ibhetshu, attempted to remove Ndlovu from the case. In response, Ndlovu reportedly preemptively submitted a formal letter withdrawing from the matter, which was subsequently leaked to the media, inflaming tempers and raising questions about professionalism and confidentiality.

Zibusiso Ncube, another lawyer associated with the case, finds himself caught in the middle, intensifying the internal discord among the legal team. Observers warn that the dispute may now be reported to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, potentially jeopardising the careers of those involved.

The case itself carries significant political weight. It challenges the Zanu-PF 2025 annual conference resolution in Mutare that endorsed constitutional amendments to allow President Mnangagwa to extend his tenure beyond 2028. Allegations have circulated that the litigation may have been contrived to manipulate the courts in favour of the President's term extension, further complicating the matter.

Ndlovu's withdrawal leaves Fuzwayo and Ibhetshu without legal representation, effectively paralysing the case at a critical juncture. In his formal communication to Sithole, Ndlovu cited the collapse of mutual expectations with the clients, non-payment for his services, and reputational risk from "unfounded allegations" by Moyo as reasons for his exit. Moyo, for his part, maintains that conversations he had—allegedly leaked—were with Ncube and Ndlovu, not Zanu-PF officials, producing WhatsApp messages to support his claim.

The fallout exposes deep fissures within the legal team, and by extension, the political and constitutional debate surrounding Mnangagwa's term. Analysts warn that the clash of lawyers could open a Pandora's Box, revealing behind-the-scenes manoeuvres and amplifying scrutiny on the judicial process.

With the Constitutional Court application in limbo, the future of the challenge remains uncertain, while the careers of those involved hang in the balance amid one of Zimbabwe's most politically sensitive legal battles in recent years.