HARARE – Corruption-accused former Cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira was humiliated on Wednesday after she was ejected from a Zanu PF politburo meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare.
Mupfumira, currently on bail after being charged with corruption involving US$95 million, had earlier attended a meeting where Zanu PF discussed preparations for anti-sanctions protests set for October 25.
The 64-year-old spent two months in remand prison fighting for bail during which time President Emmerson Mnangagwa sacked her as tourism minister.
Drapping a Zanu PF scarf with images of Mnangagwa, she took her seat in the politburo for the first time since June just after 9AM.
Mupfumira was however seen leaving the room shortly before Mnangagwa’s arrival, it is reported after she was informed that her presence was undesirable.
Mupfumira’s treatment is different from that given to former health minister David Parirenyatwa who was made Zanu PF’s secretary for health even after he was charged with corruption.
Zanu PF’s Mashonaland West party has already set in motion moves to get Mupfumira expelled from the party.
Mupfumira was freed on bail by the Harare High Court late last month following her arrest on July 24 this year.
Mupfumira was charged with corruption involving US$95 million from the state pension fund, NSSA, while she was labour and social welfare minister between 2014 and 2017.
Her arrest came after she was named among corrupt Zanu PF politicians by the party’s Youth League.
Prosecutors have laid out seven charges ranging from alleged abuse of state pension fund money to finance her political campaign to directing investments of up to US $62 million into a bank against the advice of the pension fund’s risk committee.
She is alleged to have leaned on the pension fund to enter into property deals with the same bank worth $15.7 million.
Prosecutors say she also took a US$90,000 loan from NSSA which she used to buy a personal luxury SUV on the pretext that it was an official car. She went on to receive another ministerial vehicle after treasury released funds.
Her lawyers say she is innocent and have vowed to vigorously fight the charges.