Mupfumira case postponed to September

Zvikomborero Parafini
FORMER Cabinet Minister, Prisca Mupfumira, and her alleged accomplice, Ngoni Masoka, were back in court yesterday for their de novo trial which was postponed to September.

Mupfumira and Masoka appeared before Harare magistrate, Stanford Mambanje, who remanded them to September 6, at the instance of the State.

The trial had initially commenced before former Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi, who is now a judge of the High Court, which prompted the matter to be retried before another magistrate.

Mupfumira and Masoka are being charged with two counts of criminal abuse of office and another count of concealing a transaction from a principal.

The case involves a US$90 000 debt they allegedly got from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and reportedly bought a Land Cruiser VX-L 200 series, instead of a Mercedes Benz.

They also allegedly instructed the purchase of air tickets worth US$10 215 to attend Mupfumira’s son’s wedding in South Africa and paying accommodation costs of R113 559, without approval.

Meanwhile, health director, Portia Manangazira, who is also facing criminal abuse of duty charges, appeared before the same court and was remanded to July 27, for trial commencement.

She is accused of embezzling funds that were meant for the national Covid-19 awareness campaigns.