A HARARE magistrate has set November 19, 26 and 29 as trial
dates for former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi, who is facing charges
of fraud, criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property involving $1,8
million.
Mzembi, who is being charged along with Susanna Makombe
Kuhudzayi and Aaron Mushoriwa, appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa
yesterday.
Allegations are that in 2011, when Zimbabwe and Zambia won
the bid to host the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
conference slated for August 2013, Mzembi’s ministry came up with various
avenues to raise money for hosting the event.
t is alleged this led to the signing of a 24-month contract
between Mushoriwa’s Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) and the Tourism
ministry, commencing on May 1, 2012 and Mzembi was to supervise and give
instructions to the contractors.
The State alleges Kuhudzayi and Mushoriwa formed a
consultancy company, Conventions Africa, which was not registered. They were
allegedly signatories to the PCO contract they entered into with the ministry.
Kuhudzayi and Mushoriwa then opened a bank account in the
name of Conventions Africa with ZB Bank and made themselves signatories to the
account.
It is the State’s case that using letters written on
government letterheads and originated from Mzembis’s office, Mushoriwa and
Kuhudzayi approached the corporate world seeking donations in cash and kind,
purportedly towards the UNWTO General Assembly.
The corporate world allegedly responded believing that they
were donating to the ministry towards the UNWTO conference and deposited money
into Mushoriwa and Kuhudzayi’s unregistered company’s bank account.
It is alleged Mbada Diamonds donated about $1,6 million
towards the UNWTO conference, of which $810 000 was transferred directly into
Conventions Africa’s account.
Mushoriwa and Kuhudzayi, acting in connivance with Mzembi,
allegedly withdrew $1,6 million from Conventions Africa’s account on various
occasions.
It is alleged using the funds and donations received,
Mzembi, Mushoriwa, Kuhudzai and Saungweme bought three Ford Ranger double-cab
vehicles from Croco Motors and received another Tata Xenon double-cab vehicle
from Mimosa Mines.
At the end of the UNWTO conference, the accused allegedly
shared the vehicles among themselves and Kuhudzayi allegedly sold his vehicle
to an unsuspecting third party.
The State alleged $1,6 million was stolen and only $261 386
was recovered.
Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State. Newsday
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