FORMER Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday dumped
his lawyer just before commencement of his trial at the Harare Magistrates
Courts, forcing postponement of the matter to February 13.
Mphoko, who was previously being represented by advocate
Tawanda Zhuwarara, told magistrate Hosea Mujaya that he had now hired advocate
Thembi Magwaliba to represent him in the criminal abuse of office trial.
The former Vice-President, who was yesterday represented by
Zibusiso Ncube, asked for the postponement of the trial saying Magwaliba needed
time to prepare his defence.
But the State opposed the application, saying further
delays were inconveniencing witnesses who have been coming to court religiously
since the matter was referred to the court for trial.
Mujaya initially suggested that the matter be postponed to
February 1 which is a Saturday, but Mphoko’s lawyer protested saying his client
could not attend court on a day he is supposed to be in church. Mphoko is a
member of the Seventh day Adventist Church.
“We cannot compromise on the issue of Sabbath. Our
conditions are that we do not work on Sabbath and on this one we believe in a higher
authority,” Ncube said.
Mujaya proposed Sunday, February 2 to have the trial, but
again the suggestion faced another challenge.
The magistrate then postponed the matter to February 13,
ordering Mphoko’s lawyer to file the defence outline three days before the
trial date. Newsday
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