MZEMBI'S CORRUPTION TRIAL DELAYED AGAIN

 

Former Foreign Minister Walter Mzembi's corruption trial has been postponed once more due to his lawyers' lack of preparation.

The Harare High Court adjourned the trial to January 28 and 30, and February 3, after Mzembi's legal team received the consolidated case docket only on Tuesday.

Mzembi, who is reportedly ill in custody, faces charges of theft of trust property and criminal abuse of office linked to his tenure as tourism minister. He's been denied bail and remains in custody after returning to Zimbabwe from a six-year exile in South Africa and Zambia.

The allegations against Mzembi include unlawfully converting television sets worth US$2 million, meant for public fan parks during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for personal use. The state claims the televisions were donated to United Family International Church in Harare.

Mzembi denies wrongdoing, arguing the donation was cabinet-approved. His trial has been delayed multiple times, with outstanding warrants for his arrest issued in 2018 after he failed to surrender his passport and appear in court.