The state is reportedly not opposing bail in the case of Former ZIFA CEO Henrietta Rushwaya after she was arrested for attempting to smuggle 6.09 KGs of gold out of the country, New Zimbabwe reports.
The matter came to light this afternoon when Rushwaya appeared before Harare Magistrate Ngoni Nduna who ordered the state and the Mines Boss and her legal team to appear before the court tomorrow to explain why they had just come to court with their consent for him to rubber-stamp it.
According to the publication, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had agreed with Rushwaya’s lawyer Tapson Dzvetero and made the following proposal:
- She pays $90 000 bail
- Rushwaya be allowed to report at CID Minerals every Monday and Friday
- She surrenders title deeds for number 709 Crowhill, Borrowdale registered in the name of her lawyer Tapson Dzvetero.
In refusing to sign the consent, Nduna reportedly said they should also consider the amount involved in the case:
..you just can’t bring your consent for me to rubber stamp. So, bail application has to be done before me to give the basis of the consent. It was unfair for both the state and defence to come to court with a consent for the granting of bail.
The value involved on the case must be considered hence parties must present themselves tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9:00am with facts supporting the basis of their consent.
Meanwhile, the President fired his security aide Stephen Tserayi after he was implicated in the scandal.
More: New Zimbabwe