SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
16 May 2008
Robert Mugabe axed one of the country's last remaining independent figures in the judiciary on Friday.
Suspended Attorney General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele was formally dismissed on trumped up charges of misconduct following a meeting he allegedly had with 'wanted' banker James Mushore. Mushore fled to the UK after he was accused of flouting foreign exchange laws by setting up a money transfer agency in the UK and 'siphoning' the funds to offshore accounts.
A government gazette published on Friday formed the basis of the announcement and is said to follow on recommendations made by a special tribunal investigating Gula Ndebele. The notice read; 'The tribunal has advised the President that the Attorney General ought to be removed from office for misbehaviour. Accordingly, ... the Attorney General is removed from office with effect from the date of publication of this notice.'
The state alleged that Gula-Ndebele met Mushore in September last year and offered the former National Merchant Bank deputy Managing Director immunity from prosecution. Gula-Ndebele was subsequently arrested in November and suspended from his position. Critics however say the Attorney General was caught up in the power struggles rocking Zanu PF, and certain elements felt Mushore was getting preferential treatment on the basis of his allegiance to the faction of the party led by retired army general Solomon Mujuru.
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