Zim Now Reporter

Top Harare lawyer and superior courts advocate Thabani Mpofu says his firm stance against corruption has made him a target of individuals attempting to tarnish his reputation — and that of senior members of the judiciary — from behind the cover of anonymity.

This follows the circulation of an unsigned letter sent to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, in which the anonymous writer attempted to implicate both Mpofu and High Court Judge Justice Munangati-Manongwa in alleged conflicts of interest.

Mpofu has, on several occasions, exposed corrupt conduct within the judiciary — actions that have repeatedly drawn backlash. He believes the latest allegations fit into a broader pattern of retaliation by disgruntled actors now resorting to anonymous letters to smear him.

The unsigned letter alleged that Mpofu was receiving instructions from Judge Munangati-Manongwa’s former law firm, Munangati and Associates, and that cases from the firm were being heard before her in the High Court.

In a letter dated November 21 and addressed to ZACC — also copied to the Judicial Service Commission Secretary — Mpofu and his brother Skumbuzo, through their lawyer Admire Rubaya, warned the commission against being “used and abused” by faceless individuals intent on undermining the integrity of both the bench and the bar without evidence.

They argued that anyone with genuine concerns should raise them openly rather than “skulking in the shadows like a coward.”

Mpofu said he would not be deterred by what he described as “bogus and fabricated assaults,” adding that he remains committed to his professional obligations and to representing clients who place their trust in him.

In a strongly worded response, Rubaya dismissed the allegations as entirely baseless.

“The so-called complaint is nothing more than a brazen, calculated attempt to scandalise our clients and the Honourable Judge. It is advanced in a factual vacuum, utterly devoid of evidence to support the alleged conflict of interest,” he said.

Rubaya said Mpofu’s public and unyielding position against corruption has inevitably attracted hostility from those threatened by accountability.

“Our client, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, has taken an unwavering and public stance against corruption. That principled position has evidently made him a target for bogus, fly-by-night lawyers and opportunists who thrive in the shadows of corrupt activity.”

He added that they are aware of the individuals behind the anonymous letter, describing them as actors motivated by corruption who are deliberately dragging the Mpofu brothers’ names into disrepute.

“The individual — or cabal behind this anonymous missive — plainly lacks the fortitude or moral standing to engage the Mpofu brothers directly. Instead, they hide behind anonymity, harassing our clients on social media and now abusing ZACC with this baseless charade.”

Rubaya noted that the cases cited in the complaint either have no connection to their clients or, in the one instance where Mpofu was briefed, the matter was never heard before Justice Munangati-Manongwa.

“The allegations collapse factually — they are false, fictitious, fabricated, fraudulent, fallacious and fundamentally untrue.”

He further explained that judges do not assign cases to themselves, and suggesting that judges should never preside over matters involving their former workplaces would effectively paralyse the justice system.

They argued that the anonymous complaint is essentially a targeted attack on Advocate Mpofu, with Skumbuzo and Justice Munangati-Manongwa caught in the crossfire.

“For the record, whilst we hold no brief for the Honourable Judge, it should be obvious that Justice Munangati-Manongwa retains no interest whatsoever in Munangati & Associates, having severed all ties upon her elevation to the High Court bench.”

Rubaya added that Mpofu recently flagged an irregularity in a case where he was erroneously recorded as having appeared, despite never being present or briefed.

He concluded by describing the attack as the behaviour of a bitter litigant attempting to malign others after failing on the merits.

“What remains is the desperate act of a bitter loser: one who, having failed to prevail on the merits of their own cases, now seeks to ‘play the man’ instead of ‘playing the ball.’ The attack collapses under the weight of its own emptiness.”