Manangazira is facing four counts of criminal abuse of duty
as a public officer after she allegedly paid facilitation fees to undeserving
ministry staff, flouting tender rules when she bought US$280 529 of goods and
services and illegally diverted diesel coupons for 3 290 litres to private
vehicles.
In her bail ruling, Deputy Chief Magistrate Mrs Bianca
Makwande noted that Manangazira was still employed at the Ministry of Health
and Child Care where some of the witnesses are working.
She remanded Manangazira in custody to March 8. Mr Lancelot
Mutsokoti and Mr Ephraim Zinyandu, who appeared for the State, opposed granting
of bail to Manangazira saying she was a flight risk and was likely to interfere
with witnesses.
They also said she was likely to interfere with
investigations. Investigating officer in the matter, Detective Sergeant Richard
Machinya testified against Manangazira when opposing bail saying:
“Investigations revealed that she recruited 28 members of her family to train
as community health workers.
“If released on bail, she is likely to interfere with
witnesses and investigations since some of them are executives who work with
her. We have a list of workers from the ministry who were given facilitation
fees.”
Det Sgt Machinya told the court that Manangazira was likely
to flee from the court’s jurisdiction, adding that police were waiting for more
evidence from an audit report which would strengthen their case.
Manangazira, through her lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo, told the
court that she was a proper candidate for bail whose application was supposed
to be weighed against her own conduct.
Africa CDC through a non-governmental organisation —
African Field Epidemiology Network — availed US$796 675 for purchase of
services to be used during the training of 800 community health workers.
It is alleged that during the period extending from July 16,
2020 and January 21, Manangazira authorised the procurement of goods and
services worth US$280 529 without going to tender. Herald
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