Suspended Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) boss David Chawota has been denied bail once again after having been arrested while languishing in remand cells pending trial.
Chawota’s bid to freedom failed after Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye ruled that a competent court has declared him not a bail candidate.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza suspended Chawota a day after his arrest.
In this matter, Chawota is being charged together with Angeline Karonga from the ministry of transport for criminal abuse of office.
Chawota is currently languishing in remand prison on two different matters in which bail was both denied .
The charges are involving allegations of usurping the board powers and unilaterally awarded a US$33 million contract to a company he handpicked without going to tender despite contradicting advice from government.
Allegations involving Karonga and Chawota arose from both failing to declare their personal interests in a company that was contracted by the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) to supply road construction material.
The State alleges that Karonga and Chawota are registered co-directors and shareholders at Akodac Consultancy Services.
It is said that in January 2012, the duo allegedly made an application to the then State Procurement Board (SPB) for their company to be on the approved list of suppliers of bulk and drummed bitumen so as to participate in government tenders and the SPB duly approved the application.
The court also heard that the two accused persons proceeded to register Akodac Consultancy Services with (Zinara) as a bitumen supplier.
It is alleged that Chawota and Karonga went on to carry out transactions for the supply of cat mix and stable 60 which are products for the manufacture of bitumen on 24 occasions from January 2012 till August 2013.
The State alleges that the duo failed to disclose their personal interest to their principal, the transport ministry.
It is the state’s case that Chawota and Karonga were paid $1 234 004 and shared proceeds without disclosing their personal interests in the transactions with the intention of deceiving the transport ministry.
However, Chawota’s accomplice,Karonga was freed on $1000 bail pending trial.
