Former Energy Minister, Samuel Undenge’s lawyer Mr Aleck Muchadehama had pleaded for a $50 fine or community service when he was convicted...
Former Energy Minister, Samuel Undenge’s lawyer Mr Aleck
Muchadehama had pleaded for a $50 fine or community service when he was
convicted of abuse of office.
“Given the background of the matter, the accused could have
thought he was doing the right thing. The accused has also already attracted a
lot of media publicity which has been stressful for him. Therefore, I propose
that a fine of $50 would be suitable for the case in default payment or 30 days
imprisonment,” he said.
But the prosecutor, Mr Jonathan Murombedzi said that the
court had to jail Undenge to discourage corruption. He said Undenge was trying
to hide behind Pambuka and Maziwisa when he was infact guilty.
“The accused’s blameworthiness in circumstances is very
high. He was a good steward and he was a minister in a portfolio that involved
anti-corruption.
“He knew well that stooping so low in doing business with
Oscar Pambuka and Psychology Maziwisa was unlawful. The fact that they went to
him after payments from ZPC stopped meant that he knew what was going on,” said
Mr Murombedzi.
“A true minister would not have allowed his office to be
used as a playground by Oscar and Maziwisa. As for the issue of the message
sent to the Zimbabwean public, the way the public views such matters is a way
of looking at honour and integrity.
Letting people with cases like this go has eroded the
confidence of our public in the Government system.”
Mr Murombedzi said once an accused person who has been a
Government official is convicted, there is no way they can escape imprisonment.
He further proposed that Undenge had to be jailed for an
effective five years as he had betrayed the trust that the Government of
Zimbabwe had placed on him.
The magistrate jailed Undenge for four years. He said that
the fact that only a few cases of corruption had been dealt with was demeaning
to the justice system and Undenge should have at least apologised to the nation
for the way he acted.
Mr Mujaya said community service for Undenge would bring
disrepute to the courts.
“The accused is advanced in age and circumstance. He has
contributed as a father, a Member of Parliament and diplomat.
“However, evidence has shown that the accused was favouring
fellow zanu-pf Member of Parliament Mr Maziwisa and this cannot be dismissed.
“Investors will disappear if we continue to let such
matters go (unpunished). Corruption denied the nation of good administration
and no statistics are needed to determine the level of corruption in the
country,” he said.
“Selective prosecution cannot be considered. Therefore,
accused is sentenced to four years in prison. One-and-a-half years are
suspended on condition that he does not commit the same crime.”
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