HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s lawyers have submitted a $3,2 million legal bill to Nelson Chamisa after the MDC leader’s unsuccessful court bid to overturn the declared results of the July 30 presidential election.
The Constitutional Court threw out Chamisa’s petition with costs on August 24 following elections on July 30.
Canaan Dube of Dube, Manikai and Hwacha legal practitioners, who was the instructing counsel to Mnangagwa’s 12-member legal team, confirmed the issuance of the invoice, which Chamisa’s MDC party says is “exaggerated”.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is also shortly due to present its legal bill to Chamisa.
MDC secretary general Douglas Mzonzora said the huge bill from Mnangagwa’s lawyers was a “shakedown”.
“In our view, the bill is extremely excessive, not bonafide and grossly exaggerated and our lawyers are going to contest it,” he said.
The matter is now set to be referred to arbitration by the Registrar of the Court who can ultimately decide what is due to the defence teams of the respondents.
