FORMER Information Communication Technology minister Supa
Mandiwanzira, who is facing allegations of criminal abuse of office for
allegedly seconding his personal assistant to the board of the Postal and
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) without due
process, yesterday demanded his freedom.
Mandiwanzira has since filed for exception to the charge,
arguing that the allegations do not disclose an offence. The State is yet to
respond to his application.
Three different prosecutors have appeared on the matter
seeking postponements which has raised the discomfort of Mandiwanzira.
Through his lawyer Fungai Chimwamurombe, Mandiwanzira,
yesterday cornered the State demanding his freedom and the matter had to be
taken to the chambers.
He told the court that he has been religiously attending
court, incurring expenses and having difficulties in travelling from Nyanga
where he is staying and risking Covid-19 yet the State was not forthcoming in
finalising the matter.
Mandiwanzira filed an application on June 26 and the State
was supposed to respond on July 6 with a ruling set for July 15, but the court
could not proceed as there was no response from the State and the matter was
postponed to yesterday.
Yesterday, there was also no response from the State, with
prosecutor Michael Reza applying for a postponement to Friday.
On the last appearance, regional magistrate Bianca Makwande
slammed the conduct of the State stalling the matter and ordered them to
respond by the end of day July 16.
The ex-minister’s lawyer argued that the State’s conduct
was a clear disregard of the court’s order and urged the court to free him.
He said his application was to quash the charges and with
the conduct of the State, it was prudent that he be freed.
The former minister
was initially charged with two counts of the offence before the other count of
engaging a South African firm, Megawatt Company, without due process was thrown
out at the High Court.
In his exception application, the ex-minister has described
the charge as “vague and embarrassing”. Daily News
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