Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi faces court after police arrested him Friday for skipping trial dates seven years ago. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission caught Mzembi when he returned to the country last week. Magistrate Donald Ndirowei handled his case at Harare Magistrates Court and sent him back to jail until Monday. Officials charged him with criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property during his time as Tourism Minister.
Mzembi left Zimbabwe after courts gave him his passport for medical treatment in South Africa during November 2018. He promised to return the travel document but never came back for his court hearings. Prosecutors issued arrest warrants when he failed to appear for two separate criminal cases. His lawyer Taurai Killian Mandiki wants to cancel the warrants based on medical reasons.
The original charges relate to money problems during the UN World Tourism Organisation meeting in Victoria Falls back in 2013. Mzembi served as Tourism Minister when Zimbabwe hosted the international event and allegedly worked with others to misuse government funds. He also briefly worked as Foreign Affairs Minister during 2017 before these legal troubles started.
Mzembi left Zimbabwe after courts gave him his passport for medical treatment in South Africa during November 2018. He promised to return the travel document but never came back for his court hearings. Prosecutors issued arrest warrants when he failed to appear for two separate criminal cases. His lawyer Taurai Killian Mandiki wants to cancel the warrants based on medical reasons.
The original charges relate to money problems during the UN World Tourism Organisation meeting in Victoria Falls back in 2013. Mzembi served as Tourism Minister when Zimbabwe hosted the international event and allegedly worked with others to misuse government funds. He also briefly worked as Foreign Affairs Minister during 2017 before these legal troubles started.
