Zim Now Reporter
Prominent lawyer Wilson Manase is embroiled in yet another legal controversy, this time over allegations of aiding an unlawful corporate takeover of mining giant Zimasco (Pvt) Ltd.
The company has lodged formal complaints with the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Judicial Services Commission, accusing Manase, fellow lawyer Valentine Kwande, and High Court Judge Joel Mambara of unethical conduct in facilitating businessman Shepherd Tundiya’s bid to seize control of the firm.
Zimasco claims that a High Court order issued by Justice Mambara—purportedly granting Tundiya’s Avim Investments control—was unlawfully obtained and misapplied.
The order initially referenced Sinosteel Zimasco, an unrelated and non-registered entity, rather than Zimasco Pvt Ltd. Despite this discrepancy, Manase and his associates allegedly attempted to forcibly take over Zimasco’s bank accounts and management under the flawed ruling.
When Ecobank refused to comply, Kwande filed an urgent application to "correct" the court order—without notifying Zimasco—which Justice Mambara approved within hours.
Zimasco CEO John Musekiwa condemned the move as "deplorable, criminal, and dishonorable," accusing the lawyers and judge of collusion. The company has since filed an urgent chamber application to block the takeover and is preparing criminal complaints.
This latest scandal adds to Manase’s growing list of legal troubles. Earlier this year, a Harare magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for a separate US$3 million fraud case.
In that matter, Manase and co-accused Marshall Mutandwa Shadaya allegedly forged court documents—including a fake will, divorce order, and death certificate—to fraudulently transfer properties belonging to the late Fiona Dambudzo Shadaya’s estate.
The discrepancies in the submitted documents, including conflicting will dates and fabricated divorce records, led to the exposure of the alleged fraud. The complainant, Langton Nyatsambo, discovered the scheme when he sought to claim his late wife’s estate, only to find that legal records had been falsified to disinherit him.
Zimasco’s complaint to the LSZ demands an investigation into what it calls a "blatant abuse of legal processes."
Legal experts say the repeated allegations against the high-profile lawyer raise serious concerns about ethical standards in Zimbabwe’s legal and judicial systems.
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