HARARE – Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena who was temporarily given his passport back amid contestation from various circles, is yet to travel outside the country for his intended trip to the UK due to visa application congestion, a court heard on Thursday.
A high demand for UK visas has led to longer processing times.
Wadyajena is jointly charged with Cotton Company of Zimbabwe bosses on fraud and money laundering involving over US$5,8 million.
He had his passport temporarily released to allow him to travel to the United Kingdom and Germany on Parliament business.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje released Wadyajena’s passport to September 26.
He also relaxed his bail conditions during the period of his travel.
Wadyajena on his last remand had submitted a letter written by the speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda asking for his passport to travel to Britain on parliamentary business and another trip to Germany.
Wadyajena’s lawyer Oliver Marwa said he had filed a notice to challenge the placement on remand but will file the application by 13 September.
Marwa said if Wadyajena fails to get the notification to travel to the UK he still needs his passport to travel to another summit in Germany.
Allegations are that sometime in 2019 the accused persons acting in common purpose hatched a plan to defraud Cottco of millions of United States dollars through fictitious purchase of goods purportedly for use by Cottco.
