HARARE – The High Court on Monday turned down a bail appeal by Douglas Tapfuma, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corruption-accused director of policy implementation.
Tapfuma was arrested on July 30 by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, and a appeared in court a day later accused of importing over a hundred personal vehicles using the Office of the President to avoid paying import duties. Most of the vehicles were allegedly sold, and Tapfuma pocketed the profits.
Justice Philda Muzofa said lawyers for Tapfuma were not denying that the transactions took place but were arguing that they were above board because they were allegedly approved by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Misheck Sibanda.
The lawyers had not helped Tapfuma’s case for bail, the judge said.
“Clearly, counsel failed to appreciate the gist of the offence. It is the use of state machinery to his benefit that is punishable. Apparently, what the State alleged was not denied but counsel insisted that the process was above board, it was approved by the chief secretary,” Muzofa ruled.
“It seems the State has a solid case so far. Clearly this is a serious matter which is likely to attract imprisonment because the higher the probabilities of a conviction, the greater the incentive to abscond.”
Muzofa said there was higher likelihood of Tapfuma interfering with his subordinates billed to testify as witnesses considering his influence at work where he holds a senior position.
“I find no basis to overturn the decision of the magistrate. Accordingly, the appeal against refusal of bail is dismissed.”
Through his lawyer, Shelliton Mahuni, Tapfuma said the magistrate Hosea Mujaya erred in denying him bail because the State did not submit any evidence to prove he was a flight risk and that he would interfere with witnesses.
“Investigations started in December 2018 and since then, the applicant cooperated. He would present himself each time he was called. His conduct for the past eight months is inconsistent with that of a fugitive, he would have escaped if he wanted to go,” said Mahuni.
The State insisted there was overwhelming evidence against Tapfuma because he did not deny importing the vehicles.
Tapfuma is answering to seven criminal abuse of office charges.
He is accused of importing seven personal vehicles using the President’s Office when he was still the Principal Director of State Residences.
The State says investigations have established that he imported over 100 cars using the same trick and is likely to face more charges.
Tapfuma was the second-high profile official to be arrested by the reconstituted ZACC after Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira, who was arrested on July 24 and is awaiting trial on a slew of corruption charges.
