As the new dispensation’s anti-corruption dragnet spreads,
former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi and erstwhile Energy and Power
Development Minister Samuel Undenge were yesterday arrested by the Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on charges of abuse of office.
The pair was detained at Marlborough Police Station in
Harare and will appear in court today. ZACC Commissioner in charge of
investigations Goodson Nguni confirmed the arrests and said the pair will
appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court today.
He however, declined to provide further details. Mzembi’s
lawyer Mr Job Sikhala said his client was facing allegations of donating to
churches four television sets bought by the Government for the promotion of the
World Cup in 2010.
“My client was summoned to the ZACC offices in the morning.
However, I was occupied at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and I picked him in
the afternoon to go to ZACC offices in Avondale. He is charged with
contravening section 174 of the Criminal Codification and Reform Act Chapter
9:23, which is abuse of office as a public figure,” said Mr Sikhala.
“Allegations are that he donated two television screens to
the United Family International Church led by Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, one
television screen to Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance
Ministries and another to Zion Christian Church Bishop Nehemia Mutendi in
Masvingo. The television sets were bought by the Government for the promotion
of the World Cup in 2010 and after the World Cup, Mzembi donated them to the
churches.”
Mr Sikhala confirmed that his client would appeared in
court today. Undenge’s lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama did not answer his mobile
phone despite several calls made to him.
Sources close to investigations also said zanu-pf Highfield
legislator Psychology Maziwisa and television personality Oscar Pambuka, were
also facing arrest. Meanwhile, Renaissance Financial Holdings Limited director
Mr Patterson Timba has been arrested over a death that occurred at Tolrose Gold
Mine in Kadoma.
This reportedly followed skirmishes which occurred over
ownership of the mine. Last night police spokesperson Senior Assistant
Commissioner Charity Charamba could not confirm Timba’s arrest saying she had
not been briefed on the incident. Herald
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