Harare - Zimbabwean Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube was named in an adultery case on Monday in what his lawyers called an "orchestrated attempt" to embarrass the outspoken government critic.
Attorney Nick Matonzi said Ncube was in his office in the city of Bulawayo when documents were delivered by court officials accompanied by a state television crew alleging he was involved in a two-year affair with a secretary in his office whose husband was demanding damages in a civil suit.
Matonzi said Ncube will deny the allegations in the civil court when it convenes at an unspecified date.
State radio reported in its afternoon bulletins that the woman, identified as Rosemary Sibanda who worked at Ncube's St Mary's Cathedral, "admitted the affair" to the state broadcasting company.
Matonzi said "a sort of press conference" was held in the cathedral courtyard by court officials.
"The case is unique. From the manner the papers were served, you can see it is some kind of orchestrated attempt to embarrass the Archbishop," he said.
State radio said the woman's husband, Onesimus Sibanda, was demanding ZIM$20-billion (about R1,1-million) in damages.
Ncube has repeatedly accused President Robert Mugabe of human rights violations and called for him to step down. The cleric has also urged Zimbabweans to take to the streets to demonstrate against the government amid the nation's worst economic crisis since independence.
Earlier this month, Mugabe urged his ruling party militants to disregard church leaders who have called for his forced ouster while criticising the chaotic and violent seizures of thousands of white-owned commercial farms that disrupted the economy since 2000.
"Where is the godliness? Don't listen to what they say … One cannot tell the difference between a bishop and a layman anymore. Some of them have sworn to celibacy but they sleep around," Mugabe told supporters on July 7.
David Coltart, a Bulawayo attorney and long-time friend of Ncube, said the archbishop's integrity had never before been questioned.
"Fascist dictators have used this means to attack opponents through the ages. The law is used as a weapon." - Sapa-AP