Maravi

Law firm sues expelled MDC trio

Law firm sues expelled MDC trio
13/10/2011 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

THREE former MPs who mounted a fruitless court battle after they were expelled by the MDC are being sued by the law firm that represented them. Abednico Bhebhe [Nkayi South], Njabulo Mguni [Lupane East] and Norman Mpofu [Bulilima East] face a US$10,632.71 claim from Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, according to papers filed at the Bulawayo High Court.

The law firm says it was engaged by the three MPs in August 2010 as they sought to compel President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to call by-elections in their former constituencies.

The trio were expelled in July 2009 by the MDC party led by Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube after a finding of misconduct by the party’s disciplinary committee.

The MPs were successful in their court bid, but their victory was short-lived as the government declared that it was unable to fulfil the order because there was no money to conduct the elections.

In a declaration filed at the High Court this week, the Bulawayo law firm said:

“Plaintiff has on numerous occasions called upon the defendants to settle their bill. Defendants have made promises that they have failed to fulfil.

“Despite demand, defendants have failed, refused and neglected to pay the aforementioned amount.”

The three former MPs, who have since defected to the rival MDC faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, have 10 days to challenge the claim.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MDC, ROBERT MUGABE, WELSHMAN NCUBE

posted by MrK @ 8:52 PM