HARARE - The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Elton MangomaMinister Mangoma was arrested last week, firstly on corruption charges before the allegations where altered to criminal abuse of office, saying that he authorized his subordinates to procure fuel worth US$5 million from a South African company.
In his judgement, Kudya considered the fact that Mangoma was an official with one of the parties making up the current inclusive government and that the deal was a direct result of a response to the state of affairs at that moment when the country was facing critical fuel shortages.
His actions were prompted by the public demand in that the fuel had become scarce and that the whole nation looked up to him. The applicant is the Deputy Treasurer General of the MDC which is one of the parties making up the inclusive government and that his roots are deeply embedded in Zimbabwe that the risk of flight is easily
dismissible, said Kudya.
Kudya also highlighted the fact that the company he ordered to buy fuel had no obligation to buy on behalf of the government since it is not an arm of the government, and thus rendering the states case weak.
I do not see any link between Petrotrade (NOCZIM subsidiary) and his office and the state failed to substantiate that, he said.
Kudya ordered Mongoma to deposit bail in the sum of US$5 000, not to interfere with state witnesses, to reside at his given address, to surrender his passport and to report at Marlborough police station on Wednesdays.
Addressing journalists, the MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, said his party had become an endangered species within Zimbabwe despite the MDC being part of the government.
We are no longer honourable here in Zimbabwe, but vulnerable, said Chamisa after the ruling.
The last weeks have seen MDC officials and activists facing unjustifiable arrests by the Zanu (PF)-controlled police.
Post published in: News