FIRED Environment, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry
Minister Priscah Mupfumira yesterday challenged the State to furnish her with a
trial date on three of the seven counts of corruption she is facing.
Mupfumira is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of
office involving US$95 million. Speaking through her lawyer Mr Charles Chinyama
during her routine remand, Mupfumira demanded that she be given a trial date
for the three counts.
Mupfumira said this following reports that police have
completed investigations into three cases. “We are ready to proceed with trial
in respect of the three counts,” said Mr Chinyama.
The State led by Mr Michael Reza said it will only furnish
Mupfumira with a trial date after investigations into all seven counts have
been completed.
“The State will not be stampeded into giving a trial date
when investigations are still ongoing,” said Mr Reza.
Mr Reza also said the State will not give Mupfumira a trial
date even on August 23 when she is expected to return to court for a routine
remand. Harare magistrate Mrs Learnmore Mapiye presided over the
matter.
Mupfumira is yet to know her fate after a High Court judge
reserved judgment in her bail application.
The State opposed her bail application alleging that she
was a flight risk considering that she owns mansions in Dubai, South Africa and
United Kingdom.
Mupfumira is alleged to have directed NSSA to deposit money
into her CBZ personal account, leaving room that she could also have
externalised some of the money.
It also alleged that Mupfumira filed medical reports with
the State, raising fears that once granted bail, she would abscond trial.
The State called the investigation officer into the matter,
who is attached to ZACC, Sergeant Trust Chinembiri, who also revealed that they
needed about three months to dig further into the case.
Sergeant Chinembiri also revealed that Mupfumira had
planned to flee into South Africa, where she is believed to own a mansion in
the leafy suburb of Sandton, on July 24 with the aid of her Chinese friends to
avoid arrest.
He also said Mupfumira had two passports with a 10-year
United Kingdom visa.
Mupfumira, through her lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, who is
acting on lawyer Charles Chinyama’s instruction, said one of the passports was
for her official duty as a Cabinet minister. Herald
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