Antony Chawagarira
Harare-Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has been acquitted by the High Court on charges of criminal abuse of office stemming from the donation of television screens initially procured for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Public Viewing Areas project.
Mzembi had been accused of unlawfully donating the television sets to several churches and religious organisations, including United Family International Church (UFIC), Zion Christian Church (ZCC) and Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD Ministries), during his tenure as Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister.
The State alleged that the televisions, purchased under a Government tourism initiative meant to facilitate public viewing of World Cup matches across the country, were distributed without proper authority, prejudicing the State of valuable assets.
However, the High Court ruled in Mzembi’s favour, effectively clearing him of wrongdoing in the long-running case that has dragged on for years.The judgment marks a major legal victory for the former minister, who has faced several corruption-related allegations since leaving office following the November 2017 political transition.
Further details surrounding the court’s reasoning and the implications of the ruling are expected to emerge once the full judgment is made public.
