Former Tourism Walter Mzembi has a case to answer, a Harare magistrate has ruled. Mzembi is facing $1,6 million theft of trust property c...
Former Tourism Walter Mzembi has a case to answer, a Harare
magistrate has ruled.
Mzembi is facing $1,6 million theft of trust property
charges. He will remain on remand pending trial after the
court yesterday dismissed his application challenging placement on remand.
He is said to have connived with three others and seized
vehicles which according to the State, should have been surrendered after the
United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference.
Through his lawyer Mr Job Sikhala, Mzembi argued that he
had no case to answer. e instead implicated former Permanent Secretary in the
ministry Dr Sylvester Maunganidze. Mzembi said in terms of the international
law, items used at a conference belong to the organisers of that conference.
“In this case all the things used in hosting the UNWTO
conference belong to them. If ever there was anything that was stolen, it does
not belong to the Government of Zimbabwe. The Permanent Secretary in the
ministry cannot be the complainant in this matter. The legitimate complainant
if there was misconduct by the applicant, should be the UNWTO.
“Your worship the official who entered into an agreement
between the ministry and this private contractors is the Perm Sec Dr Sylvester
Maunganidze and is the only person who should come to this court and answer on
issues concerning the agreement between the two parties not the applicant
(Mzembi).”
In dismissing the
application, magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa said there was sufficient
evidence linking Mzembi to the crime.
“Even though he was not a signatory to the bank account, he
is liable due to the doctrine of common purpose,” he said.
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