Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi yesterday failed to turn up at the Chitungwiza Magistrates Court where he was scheduled to testify in the matter in which former Zifa boss Henrietta Rushwaya is accused of concealing transactions from her principals after organising an unsanctioned trip by the Warriors to Malaysia.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
State counsel Sidon Chinzete, who is being assisted by Oliver Marwa, told the court that Mzembi, one of the key State witnesses in the matter, was tied up with “government business” and was therefore unable to pitch up.
Magistrate Sandra Mupindu postponed the matter to February 6. The State has so far called three of its prospective 84 witnesses – Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) director Charles Nhemachena, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Karikoga Kaseke and ZTA chief operating officer Givemore Chidzidzi – to testify. This brings to eight the number of witnesses that have so far testified.
Rushwaya, who is facing nine counts of corruptly concealing a transaction from her principals, pleaded not guilty.
Allegations against Rushwaya are that between 2007 and 2010, the former Zifa chief executive officer organised several matches for the Warriors outside the country without advising her principals.
It is further alleged that between October and November 2007, Rushwaya facilitated an international sporting tour for the Warriors to participate in the Agribank Cup in Vietnam, where the team lost to Finland, Vietnam and drew with Uzbekistan.
She allegedly further organised soccer matches in Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Bulgaria, without Zifa authority, the State contends.
