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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development Munesushe Munodawafa, accused of ordering Air Zimbabwe to pay Navistar Insurance Brokers $305 000 for no reason, was yesterday removed from remand.
Regional magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya removed Munodawafa from remand to allow the State to put its house in order.
The State will proceed by way of summons.
The prosecutor Mr Ephraim Zinyandu had sought for yet another postponement, saying he needed to get instructions from the Prosecutor General’s Office on how to proceed.
Mr Mujaya said Munodawafa was not a flight risk, hence if removed from remand the State would not suffer any prejudice.
He said Munodawafa applied for the release of his passport on two occasions, travelled abroad but never absconded court.
Munodawafa’s lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange wrote to the Prosecutor General’s seeking his opinion on the matter.
“We suggest you revisit this docket and also consider the sensitive and security issues that will be brought out if prosecution proceeds taking into account that there is real possibility of acquittal at the close of the State case and whether it is necessary to expose the nation to our detractors and repercussion that falls thereafter. We are convinced it will be catastrophic,” read Mr Samukange’s letter.
“Sensitive issues were raised and you indicated you needed to look at these issues because if these issues were made public they would have a far-reaching effect and will affect both the Government and the nation at large. It will also affect the national airline and CAAZ.”
It is alleged that on November 3, 2009 an MA60 aircraft was involved in an accident at the Harare International Airport after hitting wild pigs.
The aircraft was a complete write-off and the airline was paid $6, 1 million by its London re-insurer, Chartis Insurance Company.
On April 23, 2010 Chartis Insurance made a counter claim of the same amount against CAAZ for their negligence in failing to ensure that the runway was safe.
The claim included $2,419,724 for loss of business by Airzim.
CAAZ, which is Government-owned, approached Munodawafa’s office for assistance and he in turn appointed Navistar Insurance Brokers to go to London and negotiate an out-of-court settlement without going to tender, it is alleged.
At the time of Navistar’s appointment, Munodawafa was fully aware that CAAZ’s insurance broker was Marsh Insurance Brokers.
Upon the return of Navistar from London, Munodawafa wrote to the then Airzim Accounting Officer, Innocent Mavhunga, directing him to pay Navistar a “success fee” of $305 000.
It is alleged there was no logic for Munodawafa to appoint Navistar for the task when CAAZ’s broker was Marsh Insurance Brokers.
Further, the service rendered by Navistar was to be paid for by CAAZ and not Air Zimbabwe.
Following the MA60 accident, Munodawafa on April 18, 2013 personally negotiated a lease of an Embraer plane from Solenta Aviation of South Africa through his friend Ben Dahwa.
He allegedly directed Mavhunga to rent the plane from Solenta Aviation without going to tender.
The plane was leased for six months.
Dahwa was paid $10 200 as “finder fee”.
Online Reporter