HARARE - The trial of Elton Mangoma Mupamhanga is the permanent secretary in the ministry of Energy and Power Development. Mangoma is facing charges of abusing public office as a minister by authorising fuel purchase from South Africa early this year. Defence lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa grilled Mupamhanga, who squirmed under probe.
Mtetwa put it to Mupamhanga that the ministry had made several such purchases as the NOOA fuel deal from companies that were not gazetted and he confirmed it.
“You accept that fuel was purchased using money from strategic reserve funds from companies that do not appear on the gazetted list?” Mtetwa asked.
“I accept that Petro Trade and Noczim did buy fuel from companies that do not appear on the gazetted list,” Mupamhanga replied.
Then Mtetwa asked if anyone had been arrested for buying fuel from companies that were not gazetted and he answered no one had been arrested.
The trial had failed to kick off Tuesday after prison officials said the minister could not come to court as they did not have fuel.
The trial continues at the High Court at 10:30 AM Thursday.
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