Mangoma issued with summons

Harare Central Police Station on October 10 and was later released.
Minister Mangoma is also MDC-T deputy treasurer general.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, yesterday confirmed that Minister Mangoma was served with the summons.
“I can confirm that he (Minister Mangoma) was served with the summons yesterday (Tuesday) and will appear in court next week in Bindura. There is nothing new . . . it is just a continuation of the case. He was told that he will be called by way of summons,” she said.
However, in a statement yesterday, the MDC-T said Minister Mangoma was being summoned to appear in court on spurious charges of insulting President Mugabe. The party said the summons were delivered at around midday on Tuesday by Detective Sergeants identified as Ncube and Phiri from Bindura Law and Order Section.
Minister Mangoma is accused of insulting President Mugabe at a rally at Manhenga Business Centre in Bindura on the 18th of May this year. He is being charged with contravening Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (undermining the authority of or insulting the President).
Sources said the minister chanted a slogan saying:“Chifa Mugabe Chifa, Chibva Mugabe Chibva (Die Mugabe Die, Go Mugabe Go).”
Police say Minister Mangoma’s case delayed due to his “lack of co-operation” with officers handling the matter.
Said the party; “The MDC position is that the issuing of summons on Minister Mangoma on such a spurious charge is nothing but the usual Zanu-PF ploy to frustrate the Hon Minister from conducting his usual and important ministerial duties in government.’’
This is not the first time Minister Mangoma has had a brush with the law, having been arrested in March last year on allegations of criminal abuse of office after he ordered officers in his ministry to buy fuel without following tender procedures. He allegedly used his position to influence the selection of NOOA Petroleum to supply five million litres of fuel this year.
The fuel has not been delivered to date despite Government paying US$4,4 million. A few months later, Minister Mangoma was again arrested for flouting Government tender procedures for prepaid meters. He was, however, later acquitted.