One of Zimbabwe’s top lawyers George Chikumbirike has died.
Although details of his death were still sketchy last night, NewsDay understands Chikumbirike, who has been ill for some time, died at a private clinic in Harare.
Advocate Lewis Uriri last night confirmed the death of Chikumbirike. He said Chikumbirike passed on yesterday around 5:30pm at Avenues Clinic where he had been admitted on Tuesday.
“Chikumbirike had been unwell for sometime and the last time I talked to him, he was complaining of a headache. In fact there was a case, which we were doing together and had to postpone twice because Chikumbirike was not well,” said Uriri.
Chikumbirike, the lead attorney for Chikumbirike and Associates represented President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace in a case in which she is suing the Standard for publishing a WikiLeaks cable saying she benefited from illicit diamond trade.
He also represented the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in a case in which MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was seeking the release of the 2008 harmonised elections. Among other high profile personalities, Chikumbirike also represented former Finance minister Chris Kuruneri, businessman James Makamba and British tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten. Mourners are gathered at his Borrowdale house in Harare.
