FORMER Vice President (VP) Phelekezela Mphoko suffered another legal blow on Wednesday with the Harare Magistrates’ Court dismissing his application of exception to quash the charge against him.
Magistrate Hosea Mujaya dismissed the application which was presented by Mphoko’s legal representative Tawanda Zhuwarara in an attempt to quash his client’s charges.
Zhuwarara argued that his submissions were guided by terms of 179 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, chapter 09:07.
He added that the charges levelled against Mphoko were hazy and he might end up disclosing information he is not supposed to given his position as former VP while testifying.
The State however, opposed citing that the charges were clear and there was no basis for them to be laid off.
“The charges are materially defective and thereby are calculated to prejudiced and embarrass the 1st Accused. The state papers do not particularise what provision of the Constitution Accused is alleged to have acted contrary to or inconsistent with,” Mphoko’s legal representative said.
State said the charges against Mphoko of releasing the acting chief executive officer Engineer Moses Juma and non-executive director Davison Norupiri who were arrested by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on allegations of defrauding the parastatal of US$1,3 million were very clear.
