Eric Matinenga
Eric Matinenga is a Zimbabwean human rights lawyer cum-politician who successfully defended Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai during his treason trial in 2005.
Background
Advocate Matinenga is married to Miriam and the couple have 3 children Tafadzwa, Farai and Takudzwa.[1]
Educational Background
Matinega started studying law after he had gone home to Murambinda and saw how his father had been battling with the unfair tax laws that had been enacted when his father was still alive. He had been accepted for economics at the University of Zimbabwe but after seeing this disparity and injustice he went back and changed his major to law.[1]
Law career
He has lectured at the University of Zimbabwe. He has also worked with various organizations including the Msasa Project which works at protecting women's rights especially those in domestic violence. He worked in the government sector for many years before moving to the private sector as Advocate. In government he rose through ranks where he was promoted from magistrate to being president of the administrative court. He was also responsible for the change in the now new water bill.[1]
Political career
People in his constituency asked him to stand for them as member of parliament for Buhera West constituency of which he won defeating the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front's (Zanu-PF) candidate Tapiwa Zengeya. He represented Morgan Tsvangirai the Movement for Democratic Change leader (MDC) during his treason trial in 2005 and won the case.[2] Matinenga was arrested on May 31, 2008 on allegations of inciting public violence and released on June 5, 2008 following a successful application to have his arrest and detention declared unlawful. He was re-arrested on June 7 on the same charges. He was eventually acquitted in May 2009.[3] His ministry managed to deliver a new Constitution for the Zimbabwe.[4]
Political Positions Held
He was elected in 2008 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Buhera West. On 10 February 2009, Morgan Tsvangirai leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) designated Matinenga for the position of Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs as part of the Government of National Unity(GNU).[5]
Currently
Matinenga retired from active politics at the end of the (GNU) returned to practice law.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Farai & Tafadzwa Matinenga, Eric Matinenga, a prisoner in Mugabe's jail, The Zimbabwe Situation, Published: June 10, 2008, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
- ↑ Funny, The Zimbabwean Pundit, Published: August 03, 2005, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
- ↑ Paidamoyo Muzulu, Matinenga almost resigned from govt, The Independent, Published: June 21, 2013, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
- ↑ Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Advocate Eric T Matinenga, answers your questions about the Constitution making process in Zimbabwe, Kubatana.net, Published: May 2010, Retrieved: July 2014
- ↑ Zimbabwe: Full Tsvangirai MDC Cabinet List, AllAfrica, Published: February 10, 2009, Retrieved: July 3, 2014
- ↑ Veneranda Langa, There is life after politics – Matinenga, NewsDay, Published: August 21, 2013, Retrieved July 3 2014
