The Sunday News
Harmony Agere, Harare Bureau
FORMER Cabinet Ministers Samuel Undenge and Walter Mzembi, who were arrested last Friday for criminal abuse of office, have been released on US$300 and US$400 bail, respectively.
They were remanded to 22 January.
Undenge is accused of prejudicing Zimbabwe Power Company of US$12 650 while Mzembi is said to have unlawfully disposed of 16 public viewing area television screens worth US$800 000 that belonged to Government.
The two were represented by lawyers Messrs Alec Muchadehama and Job Sikhala. Harare Magistrate Mr Elisha Singano said the State had not opposed their application and that bail was a constitutional right.
Mr Singano ordered them to surrender their passports, reside at their given addresses, report to police every Friday and not to interfere with witnesses.
It is alleged that on 14 January, 2016, Undenge, a former Energy Minister, abused his office by directing ZPC to hire Fruitful Communications to promote Zim-Asset-based power projects without going to tender. Fruitful Communications then allegedly invoiced US$12 650 to ZPC and were paid but did not get any work done.
The State says Undenge favoured the communications firm contrary to his duties as a public officer.
On former Tourism Minister Mzembi, the State has it that the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry obtained US$2 million from Treasury to purchase 40 LED PVA screens in 2010.
The money was paid to suppliers Shanghai Linso Digital Technology Company, and the screens were recorded in the ministry’s asset register upon delivery.
Mzembi allegedly abused his office criminally by intentionally disposing of 16 screens via donations and loaning or hiring them out to various institutions without Treasury’s approval.
Graft is among the factors weighing down Zimbabwe’s economy, and the State has embarked on an anti-corruption blitz that has netted high-profile characters such as former Government ministers Ignatius Chombo, Jason Machaya, Walter Chidhakwa, Joseph Made and Makhosini Hlongwane.
Chombo allegedly connived with Psychology Chiwanga, R Pazvakavambwa, Iben Fransisco, James Chiyangwa, Elias Choto and L Chimimba to forge documents to transfer a Glen Lorne, Harare property from the Harare City Council to one Alois Chimeri.
He allegedly committed the offence during his stint as Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister. Chombo is also accused of using his influence as Local Government Minister to arm-twist the Harare City Council to allocate him residential stand Number 61 Helensvale, Harare, which measures 193 716 square metres.
It is alleged he developed cluster houses on the land.
Initially, the City of Harare had asked Chombo to use the land for recreational purposes, but he allegedly took the land for himself through Harvest-Net Enterprises, a company he co-directed then.
Chombo is out of custody on bail, and has applied for relaxation of his bail conditions.
Chidhakwa was charged with abuse of office after reportedly appointing former permanent secretary in his ministry, Professor Francis Gudyanga, as a lone board member at the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe.
This allegedly prejudiced MMCZ of US$28 910 which Prof Gudyanga allegedly received as sitting fees when no board was in existence.
Other cases are at various legal stages.
