HARARE – Former Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa’s trial failed to start on Tuesday after the prosecutor from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special anti-corruption unit failed to turn up indicating he was attending to a family bereavement.
The state also failed to avail documents requested by Chidhakwa’s lawyer, Sylvester Hashiti.
Hashiti requested for cabinet minutes compiled during former President Robert Mugabe’s time in office.
Chidhakwa is jointly charged with former mines secretary Francis Gudyanga and the two are facing criminal abuse of office charges.
Chidhakwa is in trouble for appointing Gudyanga as a lone board member for the ministry while Gudyanga is in the dock for sitting on the board alone pocketing allowances amounting $30,000.
Appearing for the state is Zivanai Macharaga of the President’s special anti-corruption unit.
Chidhakwa and Gudyanga argue that their actions had express approval from former President Mugabe.
The demanded cabinet minutes and communication documents between them and Mugabe.
Their lawyer said Mugabe authorised all parastatals to do the same.
“We require cabinets minutes that relate to several other state enterprises to prove that stakeholders in all state enterprises acted in the same manner as the accused did, “said Hashiti.
Gudyanga’s lawyer, Tafadzwa Muvhami echoed the same sentiments saying the information will assist in preparation of the defence for the accused.
The lawyers requested for a longer remand saying the state would need more time to get the documents, so it was unnecessary to keep coming to the courts in the interim.
According to court papers, the two started committing the crime in 2013 when the Minerals Marketing Cooperation of Zimbabwe dissolved its board.
Chidhakwa then appointed Gudyanga the board chairperson from December 2013 to September 2016.
It is alleged that Gudyanga claimed sitting allowances amounting $28,910.
According to the MMCZ Act chapter 21:04 a board constitute a minimum of six and a maximum ten members.
