Chirambwe blasts Mahere in a verbose and flamboyant response

Prominent Harare lawyer Joshua Chirambwe has fired back at allegations of inappropriate conduct leveled against him by fellow legal practitioner and former CCC spokesperson Fadzai Mahere, labeling the claims a "lamentable spectacle" and accusing her of dramatizing a trivial matter.

Mahere lodged a formal complaint with the Law Society of Zimbabwe, accusing Chirambwe of making inappropriate advances toward her in a WhatsApp group. In his verbose and flamboyant response, Chirambwe dismissed the allegations as baseless and inflated, accusing Mahere of undermining the dignity of the legal profession.

"The action is, with due respect, a lamentable spectacle, wherein a matter of questionable import is artificially inflated to a procedural level that, to a reasonable observer, appears to be an overt affront to the professionalism and gravitas that the Law Society commands," Chirambwe wrote.

Throughout the letter, Chirambwe repeatedly highlighted his youth, suggesting an implied generational disparity with Mahere. He also claimed the complaint was improperly handled, as he first learned of it through social media, rather than formal channels.

Chirambwe elaborated on his professional relationship with Mahere, describing their proximity as colleagues within Tanganyika House in Harare, where they share parking facilities and frequent cordial exchanges in elevators. He argued that Mahere could have addressed her concerns directly with him instead of escalating the matter to the Law Society, which he believes has "more important issues to deal with."

Regarding the specifics of the allegations, Chirambwe claimed to have no recollection of any inappropriate comments made in the WhatsApp group. He demanded that Mahere provide a forensic report to verify the source of the alleged screenshots, including metadata to establish the authenticity of her claims.

"She predicates her complaint on mere copies of the alleged screenshot, which in their current form, fail to permit an inspection of their veracity. Before one responds to a ghost story, they must verify if the ghost even exists," he argued.

Chirambwe also sought to dispel any notion of romantic interest in Mahere, emphasizing his marital status and devotion to his wife, Mukudzei, whom he described as a woman of "remarkable accomplishments and grace."

"As a man bound by marriage's sacred vow, I possess no desire nor affection for Fadzai Mahere. Mine heart is pledged unto my fair wife," he wrote, adding that even if he had expressed interest, such an overture could not constitute sexual harassment.

The lawyer further questioned the legal basis of Mahere's complaint, suggesting that her allegations lacked substantive evidence and a clear causal link to him. He demanded a full transcript of the WhatsApp conversation, including contextual messages, to address the matter meaningfully.

In closing, Chirambwe dismissed the complaint as "perplexing" and "trifling," likening Mahere's allegations to "a dance choreographed in a studio I never entered."

The Law Society of Zimbabwe has yet to comment on the matter or confirm how it intends to proceed.