Advocate Thabani Mpofu has hit back at journalist Reason Wafawarova following allegations that he and other prominent figures from Matabeleland received US$20 million to provide legal backing for ZANU-PF’s push to amend the Constitution.
The claims were made in a Facebook post by Wafawarova (Rizz Wafa), who alleged that Mpofu is part of a so-called “Matebeleland Cabal” working behind the scenes to give legal justification to ZANU-PF’s Agenda 2030. He wrote:
“Canaan Dube, Jonathan Moyo, Thabani Mpofu, Mbuso Fuzwayo, Nqobani Sithole and Method Ndlovu – The Matebeleland Cabal that has collectively pocketed $20 million for sanitizing and legally dressing Mnangagwa’s 2030 Term Extension Agenda.”
In response, Mpofu demanded that Wafawarova provide evidence to support his claims, warning that he would take action if he failed to do so. Mpofu wrote on X:
“In the interests of robust engagement and scrutiny, Mr Wafawarova must be encouraged to produce his evidence.
“He will obviously fail to do so because he is lying, and thereafter I will proceed against him.
“At the present moment, I can say this without impeding his ability to establish his case:
“Everything that Mr Wafawarova has said about me is not only false but also inane.
“This goes even for basic facts like my place of origin. I’m from the Midlands.”
Mpofu asserted that he has not been briefed by Dube at any point over the past eight years. He said:
“I have not been briefed by Mr Dube, maybe in some 8 years now. I have obviously been briefed by some lawyers from his firm over the years.
“The allegation that I was briefed to handle this term limit nonsense is therefore not only false but could not have been responsibly made by any journalist interested in telling the truth.
“I have put my life on the line in my fight against 2030. I fight on the frontline, and I fight with everything that I’ve got.
“Like most of you, I’m interested in knowing the real allegations against me. Mr Wafawarova has up to midday to pitch in.
“In the meantime, I must say this and trust to say it twice over; I absolutely detest both Mnangagwa and this 2030 agenda, which is fronted by dubious characters with whom I have been openly at loggerheads.
“I’ll differ with people on how to push back against Mnangagwa, but I’ll maintain my independence and will not let anyone tell me how to prosecute my protest.”
