Mugabe suspends Attorney General Gula-Ndebele

HARARE - Sobusa Gula-Ndebele, Zimbabwe's Attorney General, has been suspended by President Robert Mugabe with immediate effect.

A statement from Misheck Sibanda, Mugabe's chief secretary, said a three-member tribunal has been set up to look into allegations that he abused his office when he met privately with a fugitive banker and assured him that nothing would happen to him if he returned to the country from Britain where he had been holed up since fleeing the country through Zambia  few years ago.

The tribunal, which will be chaired by Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, is also graced by Justice Samuel Kudya and Harare lawyer Lloyd Mhishi.

"After its inquiry, the tribunal will make its recommendations to President Mugabe on whether or not Mr Gula-Ndebele should remain as the country’s Attorney-General," read the statement.

Ndebele, a former army colonel with links to the country's top army brass, including the powerful retired General Solomon Mujuru, was arrested last month on allegations of conduct contrary to or inconsistent with duties of a public officer after he allegedly privately met former NMB Bank deputy managing director James Mushore.

He was charged with contravening Section 174 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) which deals with the conduct of public officers, and recorded a warned-and-cautioned statement from him before releasing him.

The AG's arrest has been linked to Zanu PF succession politics, especially after Mushore's boss at the NMB, Julius Makoni, who has links with the powerful from Manicaland, was absolved of any wrong doing and his assets released.

Gula-Ndebele fought running battles with justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, who accused the AG of trying to have him thrown behind bars after allegedly setting Prosecutor Levison Chikafu to arrest, humuliate him and put him into the dock to answer charges connected to political violence.

The AG is represented in his legal battles by his cousin, Welshman Ncube, who is the opposition Arthur Mutambara-led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secretary general.