Perm sec wants to be taken off remand

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
SECRETARY for Transport and Infrastructural Development Munesushe Munodawafa yesterday sought to be removed from remand indicating that prolonged State investigations were affecting his work. Munodawafa (49) is accused of ordering Air Zimbabwe to pay Navistar Insurance Brokers $305 000, apparently without reason. Through his lawyer Mr Tafadzwa Hungwe, Munodawafa said the State had not given sufficient reason why it was prejudicial to remove him from remand.

“Accused is a senior civil servant and continuing on remand is prejudicial to his Government work,” he said. “His passport was part of his bail conditions and this jeopardises his work duties, especially in the ministry. “He has been on remand since April 29 and, investigations are far from over. The issue of extra-territorial investigation was not supported by any documents.

“Allegations against accused stem from what allegedly transpired six years ago.” Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa insisted that six months on remand did not warrant refusal of further remand. “This is not a simple matter,” he said. “State has applied for Cabinet authority for the investigating officer to travel to South Africa and Botswana.

“The response from the Minister of Foreign Affairs is still outstanding. State applies for a longer remand because if the Cabinet authority comes it will take a lot of time to complete investigations.”

Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo will rule on the application tomorrow. Munodawafa is facing two counts of criminal abuse of office. It is alleged that on November 3 2009, an MA60 aircraft was involved in an accident at the Harare International Airport after it hit wild pigs that had stayed onto the runway. The aircraft was a complete write-off and Air Zimbabwe 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 officials from London, Munodawafa wrote to the then Airzim accounting officer Mr Innocent Mavhunga, directing him to pay Navistar a “success fee” of $305 000.

It is alleged that there was no logic in Munodawafa appointing 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 the lease of an Embraer plane from Solenta Aviation of South Africa through his friend, Ben Dahwa.

Thereafter, he allegedly directed Mavhunga to rent the plane from Solenta Aviation without going to tender. Subsequently, the plane was leased for six months with the condition of payment of an “irregular finder’s fee” of $10 200 to Dahwa every month.

A forensic audit report by BCA Forensic unearthed the alleged scam.