Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. FORMER Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi yesterday told a Harare magistrate that his three warrants of arrests should be cancelled on the grounds that he defaulted on medical grounds.
Mzembi appeared before Harare regional magistrate Donald Ndirowei who postponed the matter to today for possible ruling on the default inquiry.
The former tourism minister, who is being represented by Killian Mandiki, filed written submissions before the court stating that when he applied to have his passport released in 2018, he had indicated that he wanted to get medical treatment abroad after being diagnosed with cancer.
He further argued that there will be no prejudice to the State if the court cancels the warrants of arrest.
In the application of warrant of arrest default inquiry, the defence argued that Mzembi returned without arrest, threat or enticement.
It further argued that Mzembi was diagnosed with cancer which requires constant, consistent care and critical medication to survive.
The defence counsel also submitted that investigations should be logically completed, adding that Mzembi had a fit and proper defence to both cases should he be subjected to trial.
Mzembi’s lawyer averred that the court can impose suitable conditions and he is willing to submit his passport which is his primary travel document he used to exit the country in 2018.Mandiki also submitted that his client has not employed any tactics to evade the borders but left and returned using proper channels showing he is a law-abiding citizen who respects and upholds the laws of Zimbabwe.
Acting deputy prosecutor-general Tendai Shonhayi told the court that she would have responded to the written submissions by end of day yesterday.
Mzembi was arrested last week by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for breaching bail conditions in two cases where he is being accused of theft of trust property and failure to return a passport released for a specific number of days.
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