HARARE - High Court Judge Ben Hlatshwayo has re-imposed a media gag on the nasty divorce case involving Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga and estranged wife Jocelyn after it was temporarily suspended.

The gag order bars the media from reporting on details of the divorce.

Jocelyn’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu said they will challenge the gag since the “judge did not consult” them as is the standard procedure.

“The gag was initially granted on a provisional basis. The judge then confirmed it without lawyers going to arguments. So we appealed that the judgment be suspended. When you appeal, that would normally see the gag being lifted,” said Mpofu.

Mpofu said Hlatshwayo recently summoned lawyers to his chambers.

“The judge called us to his chambers and told us there should be a gag because people would end up being arrested. We refused that and the judge advised us to approach the Supreme Court in order to have the gag removed. We all refused because it was coming from the judge,” said Mpofu.

Chiwenga married Jocelyn in November 1998 before the army boss settled for Mary Mubaiwa, a former supermodel and ex-wife of former Zimbabwe international soccer player Shingi Kawondera last year.

The case had been under wraps after Chiwenga’s lawyers secured a provisional order to stop the media from covering the divorce proceedings.