Minister Mangoma in leg irons
Minister of Energy and Power Development Elton Mangoma is classified as a “dangerous criminal” at Harare Remand Prison where he is being detained, a senior prison official said Monday.
The minister appeared in Court ‘A’ at the High Court yesterday, shackled in leg irons and cuffed on one hand. A principal prison officer identified only as Gumbo told the court the minister was a threat to security.
Mangoma’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, had complained to High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, just as the trial was about to kick off, that her client could not take notes properly as he was cuffed.
Justice Bhunu asked chief law officer Chris Mutangadura if the state was opposed to Mangoma being tried without cuffs to which Mutangadura said he was not opposed and that he was not even aware the minister was shackled.
Justice Bhunu then enquired from prison authorities in court what the position was with regard to Mangoma’s detention conditions.
“My lord, the accused person is classified as ‘D’ Class meaning he is a security threat. That is the reason he is in leg irons as well as handcuffs,” Gumbo replied drawing murmurs of disgruntlement from relatives and friends in the gallery.
Justice Bhunu immediately ordered prison officers to un-cuff the minister before the trial proceeded.
Mangoma, who is facing two charges involving abuse of office, was brought for trial in the first case soon after he had appeared before Justice Yunus Omerjee for bail application on another case for which he was arrested last Friday.
His application was deferred to today as the state asked for time to file its response. The bail hearing was characterised by another drama where principal law officer Tawanda Zvekare referred to Mangoma as an ordinary person whose application deserved no urgency at all.
“The state applies for the matter to be postponed to tomorrow. Accused person (Mangoma) is just an ordinary person who can be treated like any other,” Zvekare said in response to defence counsel Selby Hwacha’s application for the matter to be treated as an urgent matter.
In his defence, Mangoma challenged the clarity of the charge. He is alleged to have ordered the procurement of fuel from a South African company without going to tender.
He argues he acted in an emergency situation that required immediate action to save the situation.
He said as a minister, his actions were not in contravention of the sections referred to by the state, which is criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The minister said he became aware of a fuel crisis developing in December last year and met with the permanent secretary in his ministry, Justin Mupamhanga, and other executives who advised him that there would be no fuel shortages.
Mangoma said in January this year, queues started forming, an indication that a fuel crisis was looming and he once again held a meeting with the same people who advised him there were financial constraints.
The minister said he undertook his own investigations and spoke to various bulk fuel suppliers and was contacted by an official from a company called Nooa Petroleum.
Mangoma said as a minister, he did not deal with procurement issues and referred Nooa Petroleum to Mupamhanga and other executives who dealt with the company.
He denied involvement in the agreements that were eventually signed between Petro Trade and Mowhelere Trading who later supplied fuel.
The state opened its case by calling Mupamhanga who told the court that despite all indications and knowledge availed to Mangoma, the minister went ahead and issued communication directing the procurement of five million litres without going to tender.
The trial continues today.
Mangoma’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, had complained to High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, just as the trial was about to kick off, that her client could not take notes properly as he was cuffed.
Justice Bhunu asked chief law officer Chris Mutangadura if the state was opposed to Mangoma being tried without cuffs to which Mutangadura said he was not opposed and that he was not even aware the minister was shackled.
Justice Bhunu then enquired from prison authorities in court what the position was with regard to Mangoma’s detention conditions.
“My lord, the accused person is classified as ‘D’ Class meaning he is a security threat. That is the reason he is in leg irons as well as handcuffs,” Gumbo replied drawing murmurs of disgruntlement from relatives and friends in the gallery.
Justice Bhunu immediately ordered prison officers to un-cuff the minister before the trial proceeded.
Mangoma, who is facing two charges involving abuse of office, was brought for trial in the first case soon after he had appeared before Justice Yunus Omerjee for bail application on another case for which he was arrested last Friday.
His application was deferred to today as the state asked for time to file its response. The bail hearing was characterised by another drama where principal law officer Tawanda Zvekare referred to Mangoma as an ordinary person whose application deserved no urgency at all.
“The state applies for the matter to be postponed to tomorrow. Accused person (Mangoma) is just an ordinary person who can be treated like any other,” Zvekare said in response to defence counsel Selby Hwacha’s application for the matter to be treated as an urgent matter.
In his defence, Mangoma challenged the clarity of the charge. He is alleged to have ordered the procurement of fuel from a South African company without going to tender.
He argues he acted in an emergency situation that required immediate action to save the situation.
He said as a minister, his actions were not in contravention of the sections referred to by the state, which is criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
The minister said he became aware of a fuel crisis developing in December last year and met with the permanent secretary in his ministry, Justin Mupamhanga, and other executives who advised him that there would be no fuel shortages.
Mangoma said in January this year, queues started forming, an indication that a fuel crisis was looming and he once again held a meeting with the same people who advised him there were financial constraints.
The minister said he undertook his own investigations and spoke to various bulk fuel suppliers and was contacted by an official from a company called Nooa Petroleum.
Mangoma said as a minister, he did not deal with procurement issues and referred Nooa Petroleum to Mupamhanga and other executives who dealt with the company.
He denied involvement in the agreements that were eventually signed between Petro Trade and Mowhelere Trading who later supplied fuel.
The state opened its case by calling Mupamhanga who told the court that despite all indications and knowledge availed to Mangoma, the minister went ahead and issued communication directing the procurement of five million litres without going to tender.
The trial continues today.
