A HARARE lawyer who had a procedural misunderstanding with a prosecutor is in the dock for allegedly insulting President Robert Mugabe.

Gift Nyandoro of Hamunakwadi, Nyambuya, and Nyandoro Legal Practitioners is being charged with undermining the office of the president.

It is the state’s case that on December 15 last year, Nyandoro was at Harare Magistrates’ Courts where he was representing a client, Yemba Pauni Mulamba, who was being charged for illegally possessing ivory, a firearm and a forged passport.

The court heard that a misunderstanding ensued between Nyandoro and then prosecutor Phillis Zvenyika on how to proceed with the case, an issue that the lawyer did not take kindly.

Nyandoro is alleged to then have said, “Hazvisi zvejunta, hazvisi zvaMugabe izvi (this is not for junta, this is not for Mugabe).”

State papers say, “Accused had no lawful right whatsoever to insult or undermine the office of the president.”

In his defence, Nyandoro admits having an altercation with Zvenyika but says the allegations of insulting Mugabe are a “clear fabrication bent on malice”.

Nyandoro appeared before magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda and will be back in court on July 26.