Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
THE defense trial of former Highlanders Chief Executive Officer, Brian Busani Moyo, which was supposed to proceed for trial today, has been postponed to 8 September.
His lawyer Thamani Ncube of Wallace Law Chambers, told the presiding magistrate Richard Ramaboea that he had to attend to a case at the High Court and requested a postponement. The magistrate granted him since the High Court takes precedence over lower courts.
The former CEO is facing a fraud case where he allegedly defrauded Highlanders of US$2000.
Last week, his lawyer applied for a discharge, but Mr Ramaboea dismissed the application, stating that it would be scandalous to acquit Moyo and the magistrate ordered that Moyo has to stand trial to prove his innocence.
In rejecting the discharge, Mr Ramaboea also pointed out that Moyo, through his lawyer refused to allow a State witness Mr Lovemore Sibanda, the President and owner of Bulawayo Chiefs to retrieve receipts and Memorandum of Understanding to prove to the court that Bulawayo Chiefs indeed received US$18000. The case centers on the transfer of two players from Bulawayo Chiefs FC to Highlanders FC in December 2024- striker Never Rauzhi and midfielder Malvern Hativagoni.
The court heard that initially negotiations pegged Rauzhi’s purchase price at US$25000 and Hativagoni loan fee at US$15000. Moyo allegedly negotiated the price down but the first deal collapsed.
After several weeks, former chief’s administrator who is now a key accomplice key witness re-opened the discussions and the clubs agreed on US$13000 for Rauzhi and US$10000 for Hativagoni.
In March this year, the Highlanders executive authorized payment with dual signatures required for withdrawals. However, Mandigora-who has already pleaded guilty told a different story. He admitted to conspiring with Moyo to inflate the price to Highlanders while Bulawayo chiefs were informed the deal was worth US$18000. The US$5000 difference was allegedly split, with Mandigora pocketing US$3000 and Moyo taking US$2000.
