Former Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira and her then Permanent Secretary Ngoni Masuka face two charges of abusing their position as public servants and another charge of corruptly concealing a transaction from a director. They will now be tried for misappropriation of NSA funds. Start over in the Supreme Court.
The two appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Mr. Stanford Mambangi on Thursday when the State, represented by Mr. Tafara Chirambira, asked for the trial to be postponed to March 29 because it was not yet ready to continue the trial.
Mupfumira’s lawyer, Mr Admir Rubaya, then objected to the continued pretrial detention arguing that it had taken too long for the state to put its internal affairs in order.
Judge Mambangi said the trial should have started anew since regional judge Munamato Mutividzi who had presided over the trial in the past had been promoted to the position of judge.
He ruled that Mupfumira and Masuka must appear in court on February 29 to be indicted.
Masuka is represented by Mr Mholi Chuma.
The Supreme Court had previously dismissed the appeal filed by former Cabinet Minister Mupfumira who was challenging the lower court’s decision to reject her dismissal application upon conclusion of the state’s case. The two allegedly embezzled National Social Security Authority (NSSA) funds amounting to US$90,000, which was intended to purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser.
They also reportedly agreed to use NSA funds to buy air tickets and accommodation for Mupfumira’s relatives to attend a wedding in South Africa.
Four state witnesses have already testified at trial. Announce
