Former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi asked a Harare court to cancel three arrest warrants because of medical problems. He told magistrate Donald Ndirowei that cancer treatment abroad prevented him from returning earlier. The court will decide today whether to remove the warrants against the former tourism minister. Mzembi's lawyer Killian Mandiki said his client left Zimbabwe legally for medical care after getting passport permission.
The defense team argued that Mzembi needs constant cancer treatment and medication to survive. Mandiki told the court his client returned without being forced or threatened by authorities. The lawyer said Mzembi used proper border channels when leaving and coming back to Zimbabwe. He offered to surrender the passport used for travel during the 2018 medical trip.
Acting deputy prosecutor Tendai Shonhayi promised to respond to the written arguments before court ended. Anti-corruption officials arrested Mzembi last week for breaking bail conditions in two separate cases. The former minister faces charges of stealing trust property and keeping a passport longer than allowed. Magistrate Ndirowei postponed the hearing until today for a final decision on the warrant cancellation request.
The defense team argued that Mzembi needs constant cancer treatment and medication to survive. Mandiki told the court his client returned without being forced or threatened by authorities. The lawyer said Mzembi used proper border channels when leaving and coming back to Zimbabwe. He offered to surrender the passport used for travel during the 2018 medical trip.
Acting deputy prosecutor Tendai Shonhayi promised to respond to the written arguments before court ended. Anti-corruption officials arrested Mzembi last week for breaking bail conditions in two separate cases. The former minister faces charges of stealing trust property and keeping a passport longer than allowed. Magistrate Ndirowei postponed the hearing until today for a final decision on the warrant cancellation request.
