FORMER Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s trial failed to kick-off on Tuesday as bargaining for the postponement of the trial date caused confusion at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
The State on November 6, 2019 received a letter from Mphoko’s legal representative, Zibusiso Ncube, requesting that the trial date be changed but declined.
The State submitted that it was under the impression that they would today be focusing on the application for a postponement, but had received an e-mail from Ncube around 8am consenting to the State’s postponment denial.
Ncube was disagreable with the State’s claim that Mphoko’s legal representative had not given them reasonable notice for continuation of trial.
Magistrate Hosea Mujaya then set the trial date for tomorrow afternoon.
Mphoko is accused of abusing his power while he was still Vice President after he forced police to release from their custody suspects facing corruption charges in 2016, including a lesser charge of obstructing the adminstration of justice.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which constituionally wields arresting powers, then swooped in on him.
The Zacc board had said they were treating Mphoko as a fugitive before the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Courts granted him bail.
