Gumbura’s lawyer quits, cites victimisation

Rekai Maposa, the lawyer who was representing RMG Independent End Time Message church leader Robert Martin Gumbura has quit defending him because she feels she is being victimized. 

Gumbura is already serving a 40-year-jail term for rape, but is facing fresh troubles after being jointly charged with his secretary Tendai Ganyani on another rape charge.

His trial however failed to kick off for the third time after Maposa recused herself from representing him. She has since instructed Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba to take over the case.

But it would appear Maposa did not take too kindly to being ordered to bring proof showing that indeed Magwaliba was not available to attend court on Thursday.

“It’s now a personal attack on my integrity as a lawyer. It seems I am being victimised for representing Gumbura in this matter. Why should the State always prevail over the defence in this matter?” Maposa is quoted saying.

“I am not a feminist and I do not endeavour to be one; I am a lawyer, happily married and have brothers too. All that is happening is designed to frustrate me not to represent Gumbura and one wonders why this is happening, but I will not be intimidated not to carry out my duties, ” she said.

Harare magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni remanded the matter to April 29.