Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko must stand trial,
but on amended charges, the magistrates’ court has ruled while dismissing his
application to drop the charges against him.
He is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he
allegedly visited Harare’s Avondale Police Station where he ordered junior
police officers to release from custody of two Zinara bosses – then board
member Davison Norupiri and acting chief executive officer Moses Juma.
The two had been arrested for criminal abuse of office. Harare
magistrate Mr Trynos Hutawashe said the trial should proceed, but on new
charges to be crafted by the prosecution. “The accused must stand trial on
condition that the State should amend its charges,” he said.
Mr Hutawashe dismissed Mphoko’s argument that he had no
power to give orders to police.
“He was not an ordinary civilian,” said Mr Hutawashe. “He
was known by all Zimbabweans and would act as the President when the President
was not around. The officer-in-charge at the police station held a junior
position to his, and that argument that he had no power to give orders cannot
be allowed.”
Mphoko had sought to quash the charges against him via an
application for exception to the charges. Herald
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