BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Former Energy and Power Development minister Fortune Chasi has gone into private practice as a lawyer almost two years after President Emmerson Mnangagwa fired him from his ministerial post.
Mnangagwa fired Chasi in August 2020 on charges of conduct inconsistent with his expectations as a president.
He replaced him with Muzarabani North legislator Zhemu Soda.
Chasi’s dismissal, which came as a surprise to many, was subject to many theories, including that he may have been kicked out as a result of the never ending factional struggles in Zanu PF and government.
Chasi was also believed to have been fired for trying to block lucrative, but corrupt fuel deals involving a Mnangagwa ally.
The Mazowe South legislator confirmed that he had gone into private practice as a lawyer.
“Yes, it’s over a month now after joining with other few young lawyers to start Chasi Maguwudze law practice in the capital.
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“Of course, we will be spreading wings and opening offices in Bulawayo.
“I love it here,” he said on Wednesday in a telephone interview.
Chasi, as Energy minister, was seen as having had improved power supplies in the country when Zimbabweans were grappling with 18-hour long load-shedding periods every day.
But weeks after dismissing him, Mnangagwa praised the Mazowe South legislator, saying he worked hard to ensure there were constant power supplies.
“This time the situation has greatly improved because we had uninterrupted power supply because of the hard work by the young man Chasi who was the minister of Energy at the time and we are thankful about that,” Mnangagwa was quoted as having said at a field day held day at Kunatsa Farm in Matepatepa, Bindura.
Chasi is a lawyer, politician, and musician and is the current parliamentary portfolio committee chairperson on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
In December, he was appointed as the deputy for legal affairs in Zanu PF, a position he still holds.
