THE trial of former Chitungwiza town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa accused of defrauding council of $80 000 last year, failed to continue on Friday after the presiding magistrate Hosea Mujaya failed to turn up.
Report by Charles Laiton
She was attending a magistrates’ workshop.
Tanyanyiwa was expected to proffer his defence case after his bid for freedom was thwarted by Mujaya, who dismissed his application for discharge at the close of the State case. Mujaya ruled that Tanyanyiwa had a case to answer and should defend himself and explain what could have happened to the missing money.
Tanyanyiwa had made an application for discharge, arguing the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against him after calling all its witnesses in the matter.
But in his determination, Mujaya said Tanyanyiwa should explain certain unclear issues concerning the money.
Tanyanyiwa is facing further charges of swindling council of over $700 000 in 52 counts of criminal abuse of office, eight counts of fraud and another count of corruptly concealing from a principal, personal interest in a transaction.
In the case presently before the court, the State alleges Tanyanyiwa, well knowing that he had no money to buy a house, took $80 000 from council coffers and bought a house in Chisipite, Harare, which he later rented out to one Conrad Muchesa for $1 300 per month.
