Human rights lawyer and political activist Mr Dewa Mavhinga
has distanced himself from any attempts at regime change in Zimbabwe, saying he
was a law-abiding citizen with no such intentions.
Mr Mavhinga who is the Southern African director for Human
Rights Watch said allegations that he was involved in attempts to topple the
Government were false.
The statement by Mr Mavhinga followed a story by The Herald
a fortnight ago based on a leaked Whatsapp chat between fugitive former Cabinet
minister Walter Mzembi and South African-based businessman, Mr Mutumwa Mawere
in which the duo discussed several strategies to salvage their waning fortunes.
In the chats which went viral, one of the suggestions made
by Mr Mzembi was to call for regime change in Zimbabwe adding that Government
must compensate Mr Mawere for the loss of his business entities as a
pre-condition for removing sanctions by the United States.
The duo also proposed to rope in political activist, Ms
Miriam Mutizwa and an individual they identified as Dewa whom they described as
key in engaging the international community such as the United States and the
European Union on Zimbabwe.
“I have been going through the information you sent. My
summary is a regime change in Harare is part of the solution if not the
ultimate solution . . . We have to place your issue before the USA in a manner
where it becomes topical politically and linked to removal of sanctions.
Equally EU. So Dhewa will be key if we package it properly,” said Mr Mzembi.
But in a new turn of events, Mr Mavhinga, speaking through
his lawyer, Mr Mose Mackenzie-Ndebele of Zimudzi and Associates vehemently
denied any involvement of a plot to topple the Government.
“Our client is a trained lawyer and a law abiding citizen
who has never plotted the ouster of any government . . . Our client is a
reputable human rights lawyer who works for a highly reputable international
human rights institution,” said Mr Ndebele.
Mr Mavhinga accused The Herald of being malicious through
writing an article that he said was defamatory.
“Our client has further advised us that the same article is
false, not only in its contents, but that what your reporter depended on, an
extract of an unverified chat purportedly between a one Mzembi and one Mawere,
which chat does not mention the name Dewa Mavhinga at all. It was The Herald
newspaper which maliciously inserted Dewa Mavhinga’s name into the chat and
made wild allegations about our client’s purported involvement in an imaginary
plot to oust the Government,” said Mr Mavhinga. Herald
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