Former Mines ministry secretary Francis Gudyanga, who is
accused of defrauding the State of more than US$1,6 million together with an
Israeli company Nikuv, yesterday threatened to expose the State if it refuses
to allow his case to be held in camera.
Gudyanga, who is represented by Norman Mugiya, warned the
State before magistrate Hosea Mujaya that some of the elements in his case were
covered under the Official Secrecy Act which he signed as a public official and
revealing them in a public court will be in breach.
But the State ignored Gudyanga’s threat, saying he must
file an application to the court to have that privilege.
Gudyanga, also a former Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe
chairperson, allegedly caused the parastatal to pay $1 629 500 to Glammer (Pvt)
Ltd, an Israeli company through a local agricultural company, Pedstock.
Pedstock is a sister company to Nikuv International
Projects Limited, which was accused of aiding Zanu PF rig the 2013 polls.
Prosecutor Vernanda Munyoro yesterday told the court that
they have been waiting for Gudyanga’s written application for the case to be held
in camera after he told the court that he will submit the application on June
24.
But Mugiya warned the State that if they do not want to
consider his request it will be to their disadvantage.
“The application of this nature can be made after plea and
we will make that application after plea. There is no need to protect the State
if they do not want to be protected. We are prepared to unpack the reality of
the case. We are going to plead and make that application,” Mugiya said.
Mujaya postponed the matter to August 5 for trial. Newsday
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