Magistrate Hosea Mujaya has moved the trial of former ICT minister Supa Mandiwanzira to July 16 for trial pending High Court determination on the State’s application for rescission of the judgment.
Mandiwanzira is accused of fraudulently appointing his personal assistant to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory of Zimbabwe (Potraz) board.
The state alleges that Mandiwanzira appointed his personal assistant, Tawanda Chinembiri to the POTRAZ board. It also alleges that the appointment of Chinembiri constituted a criminal abuse of office since the assistant was not a government employee.
Mandiwanzira’s lawyer, Thembi Magwaliba, however, dismissed the State assertions arguing that Chinembiri was appointed as deputy director and PA to the minister in March of 2015 and his appointment to the POTRAZ board was in February 2016.
Mandiwanzira had also complained in court that he has not committed any crime, saying the charges against him were a result of political persecution. He had also told trial magistrate Elijah Makomo that he had done everything with the authority of his principals.
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