Legal trouble for Togarepi
Former Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Mashonaland Central Youth Chairperson Blessing Togarepi has been served with a notice to cease and desist from mentioning, mounting malicious misrepresentations and attacks against the ZMF and its officials on social media platforms.
D Mthombeni Legal Practitioners under instruction from the ZMF notified Togarepi to cease and desist from putting the name of the Federation into disrepute.
“Notice to cease and desist mentioning, mounting malicious misrepresentations and attacks against the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) or any of its officials on social media platforms,” said the notice.
The Legal Practitioners have also warned Togarepi from tarnishing the image of ZMF officials and its President.
“Especially tarnish the image of both clients and its officials, in particular, Ms Henrietta Rushwaya. The client has since forwarded to us some of those audio recorded clips which you shared on WhatsApp,” read the urgent notice.
The notice also advises Togarepi to address any mining issues with relevant authorities.
After a series of rants, Togarepi accused the ZMF President of blocking him on Whatsapp to which the letter responded clearly stating the blockade was due to constant harassment Rushwaya received from Blessing.
“Miss Rushwaya had to block you from her phone for the nuisance that you (Togarepi) had allegedly become because she could not stand your relentless harassment,” read part of the notice.
In a WhatsApp audio message shared on mining platforms which is suspected to have finally triggered the notice, Togarepi bizarrely expressed his anger towards a Mines and Minerals bill that was expected to be tabled to parliament and last month, accused ZMF of being complicit. The bill, which has not yet been revealed or made public will be unveiled at an event that will have stakeholders giving their input before being passed.
Speaking to Legislators on the delays of the bill recently, the Deputy Attorney General Nelson Diaz told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines that the delays were due to understaffing as he had only four junior lawyers to do drafting in his department. He also said that his department was also inundated with several other laws that needed drafting like the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill and they Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Bill which are now before Parliament.
To add insult to injury Togarepi in a WhatsApp audio confirmed receiving the notice and proceeded to blast the D Mthombeni Legal Practitioners for “leaking” the documents on WhatsApp platforms. He accused the Law firm of being unethical.
“I received a letter at the office yesterday (Saturday) and now I see the letter circulating in media. These law firms are not ethical…” he said.
An anonymous miner who chose not to be named expressed disappointment over the way Togarepi was manufacturing trouble for himself.
“It is most regrettable and unfortunate that Togarepi has mounted a personal attack against lawyers whose only ‘fault’ was to execute client instructions. He has gone into overdrive making false accusations against the law firm that was instructed by ZMF to write to him demanding that he cease and desist his inappropriate conduct. Togarepi has failed to provide any factual basis for attacking the professional, ethical integrity of the lawyers when challenged to do so other than making malicious, defamatory accusations. Most shockingly Togarepi has chosen to fight the messenger and has never disputed the contents of the letter and allegations made by ZMF and its officials”.
Meanwhile ZMF lawyers D Mthombeni Legal Practitioners refused to comment on the matter when contacted for comment citing professional reasons. “Issues are dealt with in and through appropriate forums or channels and not through the Media,” said Mthombeni.
Togarepi late last year from an uninformed position attacked the current Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando through a series of audios sent on social labelling him a sell-out for issuing EPOs which he claimed were issued by the Minister yet since 1994 no EPO has been gazetted.