HARARE — Former Cottco marketing manager Maxmore Njanji has had his passport temporarily released and his bail conditions relaxed to allow him to travel to South Africa for medical examination.
Njanji is jointly charged with Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena, along with Cottco CEO Pious Manamike, Cottco official, Fortunate Molai, Pierpont Moncroix Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited and Mayor Logistics (Pvt) Limited.
They are facing fraud and money laundering charges involving US$5,8 million. Njanji, through his lawyers, denies the charges.
His lawyers described the allegations against the former Cottco Marketing manager as frivolous, adding as the head of sales and marketing, he had no signatory power over the transactions.
During his bail application, Njanji further argued that, at the time a US$1,8 million transaction was signed and authorized, he had no capacity or proximity to sign the authorization as he was in Mali as proven by stamps on his passport.
His lawyers added that, in any case, their client is not a signatory to the Cottco account and his continued prosecution was unjust.
Wadyajena UK visa application yet to be granted
Meanwhile, Justice Mayor Wadyajena is waiting for the UK visa authority to grant him a visa to the United Kingdom for parliamentary duty, the court heard.
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.
