D-Day for Rushwaya

Zvikomborero Parafini

ZIMBABWE Miners Federation president, Henrietta Rushwaya, who is on trial for bribery, returns to court today where the presiding magistrate is set to pass judgment.

The matter was finalised last week when Rushwaya testified in her defence case as the star witness.

The defence case followed the dismissal of her application for discharge at the close of the State’s case after magistrate Learnmore Mapiye ordered her to explain why airport personnel would lie against her.

Rushwaya told the court that, as president of the ZMF, she represents 1,5 million small scale miners.

She told the court she never offered Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe employee, Owen Sibanda, any amount of money as alleged.

In his submissions last week, Sibanda said he was not offered money in any form,

Rushwaya said she didn’t offer him money because his duty was to scan bags and to ensure the free passage of travellers. She said if she had offered him money, he should have got her arrested because no one is allowed to pass with US$2 000 cash through the airport.

Rushwaya told the court she believes Sibanda teamed up with her enemies, in the mining industry, to tarnish her image.