A former minister in Robert Mugabe’s cabinet, Ignatius Chombo has petitioned the Supreme Court to have his seized passport returned. Chombo’s passport was seized as he attempted to board a plane to South Africa, supposedly for medical reviews. The passport was handed to the Harare Magistrates Courts.
Says Chombo through his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, in the filed affidavit:
As the judgment of the court aquo (High Court) makes it clear, there is no factual dispute regarding the following; that the passport was unlawfully taken away from me (Chombo) by a State agent; that it was handed back to the first respondent (clerk of court) and that the first respondent is refusing to release it to me in accordance with the order of May 10, 2019.
If my appeal is heard urgently before June 21, 2019 and it succeeds, I will be able to utilise the remaining days before June 21, 2019 and have very useful medical reviews. My failure to travel for medical treatment is causing me a great deal of mental and physical pain.
I fear for my health. I feel it every day that is passing that my health is deteriorating. At my age, these routine medical reviews are a source of strength.
Chombo was arrested in November 2017 on corruption charges during the coup that toppled Robert Mugabe. He successfully applied for bail and was later re-arrested for wearing Zanu-PF regalia. He was released on bail on this charge and both cases are still pending.
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