Former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s health has
deteriorated after missing scheduled medical reviews because his passport was
seized by security agents at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport
early last month on his way to South Africa to seek medical attention.
“My failure to travel for medical treatment is causing me a
great deal of mental and physical pain. I fear for my health. I feel it every
day that is passing that my health is deteriorating. At my age, these medical
reviews are a source of strength,” Chombo submitted, as he sought the
magistrate’s court to temporarily release his passport for three weeks from
June 27 to July 17.
“I am advised that section 48, 51 and 76 of the
Constitution of Zimbabwe gives me right to have access to health service of my
choice. More fundamentally, my cancer situation places me in the category of a
person with a chronic illness as contemplated in section 76 of the
Constitution.”
Pleading with the court to release his passport, he added:
“I have no intention whatsoever of absconding. I will stand if the superior
court dismisses my plea for a permanent stay of prosecution. I am genuinely
seeking specialist medical treatment,” Chombo said.
Chombo is believed to be suffering from cancer. He
unsuccessfully filed several applications to the Supreme Court to get his
passport, but he was referred back to
the lower courts.
The former minister’s lawyer Lovemore Madhuku said he had
an outstanding medical review that was recommended by his doctors and his
health situation is deteriorating given that he had already missed those
examinations.
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has assigned four
senior prosecutors on Chombo’s matter namely Tafara Chirambira, Clemence
Chimbari, Tendai Shonhai and Lovett Masuku.
They asked for the postponement of the matter to Monday for
formal oral application and response.
Chombo’s passport was released on May 10 this year, but the
former Zanu PF secretary for administration could not travel because the
document was seized by security agents while he was about to board a flight to
South Africa. The passport was, however, returned to the clerk of court.
The prosecutor, who consented to the release of the
passport Tapiwa Kasema was later arrested, prompting NPA prosecutors to protest
alleging victimisation. Newsday
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