Former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo and ex-Zanu-PF
Youth League bosses Kudzanai Chipanga and Innocent Hamandishe were yesterday
sent to remand prison, pending further court appearances for fraud, criminal
abuse of office, kidnapping and publishing falsehoods.
Chombo’s and
Chipanga’s bail hearings are scheduled for tomorrow, while Hamandishe will be
back in court on December 8, 2017.
Chombo (66) is facing fraud, abuse of public office and
corruption charges; while Chipanga, Zanu-PF’s former Secretary for Youth
Affairs, is answering to one count of publishing falsehoods.
Hamandishe (38) faces six counts of kidnapping and a charge
of publishing a false statement. The trio was taken
to remand prison in leg irons at around 6.45pm.
The court heard that Chombo violated Section 4(a) of the
Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 9:16) when he allegedly connived with
Psychology Chiwanga, R Pazvakavambwa, Iben Fransisco, James Chiyangwa, Theresa
Chenjerayi, Elias Choto and L Chimimba to forge documents to transfer a Glen
Lorne, Harare property from the Harare City Council to one Alois Chimeri.
He allegedly committed the offence during his stint as
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister.
Part of the charge sheet reads, “During the period
extending from June 25, 2004 and December 2009, the accused and his accomplices
forged documents that include a lease-to-buy agreement and capital gains tax
clearance certificate, and purported that these documents were authentic and
made by the City of Harare with the concurrence of Local Government and
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials.”
This resulted in council losing property valued at US$900
000.
Chombo is also accused of using his influence as Local
Government Minister to arm twist the Harare City Council to allocate him
residential stand Number 61 Helensvale, Harare which measures 193 716 square
metres.
It is alleged he developed cluster houses on the land. Initially, the City of Harare had asked Chombo to use the
land for recreational purposes, but he allegedly took the land for himself
through Harvest-Net Enterprises, a company he co-directed then.
The property was valued at Z$23 246 800 000, the equivalent
of US$2,7 million.
The court also heard that on October 1, 2005, Chombo
allegedly fraudulently acquired a Z$14 billion loan from the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe under the Other Crops and Livestock Support Facility.
Instead of purchasing farming implements, he allegedly
bought two Toyota Hilux Vigo vehicles.
Chombo’s lawyer,
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, applied for the ex-Cabinet minister’s removal from
remand because he had been “over-detained” after having been “arrested” by
people dressed in military attire.
Prof Madhuku turned to Section 50 of the Constitution which
states that any person detained or arrested by a State agent should be taken to
court within 48 hours.
However, presiding magistrate Mr Elisha Singano dismissed
the application, saying the defence had failed to prove that those who had
“arrested” Chombo were State agents.
Chipanga appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Josephine
Sande, charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to
the State, or alternatively causing disaffection among the police force or
defence forces.
The charge arise from a media statement Chipanga read on
November 14, 2017 in which he denigrated the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Prof Madhuku, who also represented Chipanga, wanted his
client similarly granted bail on the grounds of “over-detention”.
Chipanga had earlier told the court he suspected that he
was detained by the police since he was “arrested” at Borrowdale Police Station
where he had gone to seek refuge following warnings that he was targeted by
unknown assailants.
Ms Sande dismissed the application saying Chipanga and his
defence had failed to prove that those who had “arrested” him on November 15,
2017 were State agents.
Hamandishe appeared before magistrate Hosea Mujaya to
answer to six counts of kidnapping and one of publishing a false statement.
The former Zanu-PF Youth League national political
commissar is accused of abducting and detaining six political activists in
Chitungwiza on December 23, 2015.
Hamandishe’s charge of publishing a false statement stems
from a media statement delivered by Chipanga denigrating the ZDF. Sunday Mail
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