HARARE – Former Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa and the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary Francis Gudyanga have failed in their bid to be removed from remand.

Harare magistrate Estere Chivasa said the two should patiently wait for their trial.

The two last week applied against further remand, arguing that the state was taking too long to prosecute them.

They also complained that documents which they had requested including cabinet minutes were yet to be provided and as such they could not craft their defence.

But Chivasa ruled that it was the accused’s duty to source for those documents.

“I don’t want to turn this courtroom into a law school but the requests by the defence are not valid. The documents the defence requested for are not in the custody of the state and it is the defence’s duty to source documents supporting their case not for the state to assist them,” she said.

Chivasa said the two will be given time to look for the said Cabinet minutes but however warned them to be quick about it.

The two are facing criminal abuse of office charges after they allegedly awarded a businessman a mining deal without following due process.

On the second charge, Chidhakwa is accused of appointing Gudyanga as a lone board member for the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ). Gudyanga pocketed nearly $30,000 in board fees.

On their last appearance, they blamed the state for giving various reasons for postponement adding that the prosecutors were confused.

The prosecutors insisted that they were ready to proceed to trial.

Chief prosecutor Clemence Chimbare opposed the application saying releasing the two was not in the interests of justice.