The magistrate’s court has ruled that former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko must stand trial on amended charges.
Mphoko had sought to have the criminal abuse of office charges against him dismissed arguing that he had no power to give orders to the police.
Harare magistrate Mr Trynos Hutawashe dismissed Mphoko’s application to drop the charges adding that trial should proceed. Hutahwashe said:
The accused must stand trial on condition that the State should amend its charges.
He was not an ordinary civilian. He was known by all Zimbabweans and would act as the President when the President was not around. The officer-in-charge at the police station held a junior position to his, and that argument that he had no power to give orders cannot be allowed.
The state alleges that Mphoko visited Harare’s Avondale Police Station where he ordered junior police officers to release from custody of two Zinara bosses – then board member Davison Norupiri and acting chief executive officer Moses Juma who had been arrested for criminal abuse of office.
More: The Herald