ZANU PF Nyanga legislator and prominent business man Supa Mandiwanzira’s proposed business trip seems to be crumbling as the courts continue to delay the release of his passport amid suspicions by the state that he could follow the route taken by former cabinet ministers Walter Mzembi and Savior Kasukuwere.
Mandiwanzira had applied for his passport, attached as part of his bail conditions to be temporarily released to allow him to travel to China for business purposes.
Magistrate Elijah Makomo had since two weeks ago pushed the ruling to Wednesday 27 arguing that he was tied up, and yet on the day stayed the ruling again saying he would want to hear from the High court first.
Mandiwanzira had made an application to the High court challenging magistrate Makomo’s ruling in dismissing his exception application.
However, the state had said that it will oppose former ICT minister’s application to travel to China on a business trip fearing that he will not stand trial again.
Prosecutor Michael Chakandida from the President Mnangagwa’s special prosecuting unit urged the court to trash Mandiwanzira’s application saying if the courts grants him this application he will never show his face before court again.
He is also accusing the former information minister for delaying trial and he said it cannot be blamed on the state but the accused person.
He told the court that Mandiwanzira will not come back because he is aware of the judgment he is likely to face if convicted.
Tembinkosi Magwaliba, who is representing the accused person pleaded with the court to grant him his application.
He said that the state has been notified about the application and they said they only wanted to verify about the trip but surprisingly they are now opposing.
He added that the State will suffer no prejudice if bail conditions are varied since Mandiwanzira had suggested to surrender added property as surety to the clerk of court on top of the $100 000 worth which is already with the clerk of court.
He said Mandiwanzira is prepared to risk a further additional property to guarantee that he will be back in court and that he has nothing to fear because he initially was in China and come back to surrender himself, so the state cannot fear of abscondment.
Mandiwanzira is among the Robert Mugabe ex-ministers who were nabbed by the Mnangagwa’s new dispensation on anti-corruption agenda and arrested for criminal abuse of office.
Meanwhile, magistrate Makomo said that he wants to hear from the high court’s decision on the exception application.
