FORMER Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has been convicted of boycotting court in a matter in which he was summoned to testify.
He was slapped with a four-day imprisonment term or to pay $20 fine instead.
Mavhaire is one of the key witnesses in a case of former Zimbabwe Power Company board chairperson, Stanely Kazhanje stands accused of receiving $10 000 bribe from Wicknell Chivayo in order to push for a Solar project contract between his company Intratrek Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Power Company.
Regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya rules that Mavhaire had indeed refused to formally accept the summons served to him by the police officer who had travelled from Harare to Masvingo to subpoena him.
Mujaya fumed at the ex-minister for wasting the Court’s time trying to evade court.
“The police could not have travelled all the way to Masvingo for nothing.
“The accused desperately tried to parade confusion but professing ignorance is not defence. “If anything, the lawyer was only successful in wasting Court’s time by demanding that the police officer who went to serve his client be called,” said Mujaya before ordering Mavhaire to return back to court on April 15 for trial continuation.
The officer from CID anti-corruption told the court that Mavhaire had refused to sign the summons indicating that the prosecutor handling the case only needed his statement.
Court heard he also said Kazhanje wanted to use his name so he believed he was the defence witness. Kazhanje’s trial will continue on April 15.
He denied the allegations on the basis that he had no powers to influence the engagement of Intratrek Zimbabwe.
Through is lawyer Advocate Sylvester Hashiti, Kazhanje said other board members would have picked his interests in Intratrek Zimbabwe if he had any since the board consisted of intellects with various professional and educational backgrounds
Kazhanje also argued that deliberations on engaging Intratrek Zimbabwe we’re done before he joined the board.
Energy minister Munacho Mutezo, ZPC secretary and legal advisor Norah Tsomondo have so far testified. They all distanced Kazhanje from allegations he is facing.
Tsomondo on Thursday told court that the board led by Kazhanje was one of best ever. Brian Vhito prosecuted.
