Former Tourism and Hospitality minister, Prisca Mupfumira has been dragged into the case of Gogo Plaxedes Mashasha’s case after the latter was declared fit to stand trial.
Gogo Mashasha was Friday declared mentally stable to stand trial. She will be back in court next week for a bail application.
Gogo Mashasha is in custody for failing to report the death of her husband who was found in a decomposing state.
A family spokesperson, Nobuhle Mashasha, said they read about the death of her grandfather in H-Metro, as her grandmother never informed anyone.
Some members of the public have, however, suggested that there is an impartial application of law after Gogo Mashasha was declared fit to stand trial. One comment seen by Pindula News read:
Meanwhile, Mupfumira was not fit for trial but could contest in ZANU PF Central Committee elections.
Some context:
Mupfumira was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on 25 July 2019. Mupfumira’s Charge sheet shows that she allegedly:
1). Siphoned over US$500 000 from Nssa for personal use and,
2). Siphoned over US$40 million in ‘illegal’ investments she reportedly directed the State pension manager during her tenure as Public Service Minister.
3). Verbally instructed then permanent secretary, Ngoni Masoka, to get a loan advance of US$90 000 for the purchase of her ministerial vehicle (Toyota Land Cruiser ADX-0878), Nssa does not have that provision.
4). Accepted another ministerial vehicle from the government, a Range Rover registration ADY-6878.
5). Received US$101 814,80 from Nssa’s corporate social responsibility budget and converted the sum to personal use detailed under “advances to parent ministry”.
6). Ordered Nssa to inflate its budget to US$350 000 before claiming US$303 520 for personal and political interests in her constituency.
7). Directed the advancement of US$62 250 000 worth of Treasury Bills in March 2017 as double cover to struggling MetBank which in turn misappropriated US$37 035 000 of it.
8). As a result, another US$4 908 750 was lost to MetBank in June 2017 in an opaque housing scheme as a result of a directive alleged to have come from Mupfumira who demanded that the deal be signed within 48 hours.
9). Drawcard (Pvt) Ltd of Gweru also prejudiced Nssa of US$6 500 000 under similar circumstances.
Her trial failed to start on schedule as she was said to be unfit to stand trial.
Mupfumira’s lawyer Charles Chinyama told deputy chief magistrate Crispen Mberewere that his client had an operation in October 2019, resultantly, a private psychiatrist recommended a maximum of three months to assess her mental well-being.
Chinyama requested Mupfumira’s trial be postponed to April 2020.
Mupfumira was cleared to contest for a post in ZANU PF’s Central Committee in October 2022.