The State is in a quandary as Prosecutors with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) are still distancing themselves from prosecuting in a matter in which one of them, Tapiwa Kasema is facing charges of criminal abuse of office as a public officer.
Kasema has long made an application for refusal of further remand but with no State to respond to it.
His passport has however been temporarily released as he is set to travel to Tanzania on official business. The passport will be released on June 18.
Allegations against Kasame are emanating from a court session on May 10, when ex Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo who is facing criminal abuse of office and fraud charges applied for the release of his passport and Kasame consented to it being released.
Prosecutor Moses Mapanga alleged that Chombo was appearing in court six at Harare Magistrates’ Courts for routine remand when he made an application for the temporary release of his passport on a record which was being handled by Kasame.
It is alleged that despite the fact that Kasame knew that Chombo’s passport was being held in respect of two other records which the accused was not handling, he acted contrary and inconsistent to his duties by consenting to the release of the passport showing favour to Chombo.
Kasame who was appearing before Provincial magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti was released on $150 bail coupled with stringent reporting conditions.