The trial of former health and childcare minister David Parirenyatwa suffered a false start yesterday as the magistrate who was supposed to preside over the case was in no show, Newsday reports.
According to both the state and the defence, Elijah Makomo, the magistrate in question ‘s whereabouts are not known.
The prosecutor’s submissions to postpone the trial revealed this development as they read in part:
We have not been in a position to get hold of magistrate Makomo. He advised us that he was in a meeting. In the circumstances, we request the court that the matter be postponed to November 19. May I also seek the court’s indulgence to liaise with magistrate Makomo and secure his attendance.
Parirenyatwa is facing criminal abuse of office charges for the time he was a cabinet minister. His case has been postponed once and this is the second postponment.
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