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Dorowa Minerals Boss Off The Hook

By Judith Nyuke

Dorowa Minerals CEO James Chigwende, previously embroiled in a forgery scandal, has been cleared of personal charges after a Harare magistrate ruled that the company itself should face legal proceedings.

This follows after Chigwende, represented by lawyer Moffat Makuvatsine, filed an application to have the charges against him dismissed on Wednesday.

The lawyer argued that Chigwende should not be held personally liable and that the appropriate entity to face the charges should be Chemplex Cooperation Limited.

The prosecution, led by Rufaro Chonzi, conceded to Chigwende’s application and withdrew the charges against him before he could enter a plea.

Subsequently, Chonzi filed charges against Chemplex Corporation Limited represented by its Legal Manager, Kudakwashe Jenami.

Since it is a company which is now being charged, the issue of bail does not arise.

The State submitted that it is now in possession of the docket and outstanding are some minor amendments and the accused company was then remanded to the 3rd of February for provision of a trial date.

Chingwende initially appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi sometime in November last year and he was released on US$300 bail.

The State had alleged that on February 20, last year, the complainant Courage Katiyo who is the Director of Coursim Investments, initiated a 90-day fix-and-supply contract with Dorowa Minerals, Murambinda.

According to State papers, this was done through its parent organisation Chemplex (Pvt) Ltd.

The job was for the erection of a greenhouse shade at Dorowa Minerals. The contract was signed at Chemplex Headquarters in Harare and Katiyo was meant to receive US$77 264-19 as payment.

The State failed to prove that Chigwende, and the then acting general manager, appended their signatures on February 20 to the contract document, which had three copies.