THE trial of three people accused of stealing Trauma Centre Hospital cash and equipment worth over $4 million took a new twist yesterday after the hospital owner Vivek Solanki alleged in court that the equipment was moved to Mozambique where it is intended to be used in treating casualties of war.
REPORT BY CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
Solanki also accused Harare lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa of facilitating a payment of $150 000 as “kickback” to certain officers in the Attorney-General’s Office to influence his arrest on what he termed “dubious and fictitious” allegations.
The entrepreneur made the startling disclosures while giving his evidence-in-chief as the trial of the three accused Peter Annesley, Mavis Mushonga and Paul Stevenson continued at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.
Responding to allegations that he was corrupt, Solanki said: “They are the ones who are corrupt. Mtetwa was seen together with accused’s colleagues paying $150 000 to officers in the AG’s Office. We have photographs and videos where she was captured paying the money and the matter was reported to police and the Anti-Corruption Commission.”
Solanki told regional magistrate Clever Tsikwa that the trio’s bosses based in the United Kingdom were working in cahoots with Renamo leader Alfonso Dhlakama and corrupt ministers in Mozambique to cause instability in the Southern Africa region.
“These accused are working together with their bosses, funding Renamo in preparation for war in Mozambique,” Solanki said.
“They moved the hospital equipment to Mozambique and they are building offices in Tete, a region controlled by Renamo leader Dhlakama, in preparation for war. The equipment is mainly used in the treatment of gunshot wounds, post-bomb blast injuries, amputations, abdominal and chest surgeries.”
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Asked by prosecutor Michael Reza if it was true that he authorised the movement of the equipment to Mozambique after disposing of the hospital to African Medical Investment, Solanki dismissed the assertions.
“I never sold or donated my company to anyone. We need the hospital equipment in Zimbabwe. As we speak, we are sending patients to South Africa for treatment because we no longer have it here. These people did not only sabotage me and my family, but they sabotaged the country,” Solanki said.
While continuing his evidence-in-chief, he said his hospital was seized through violence commonly referred to as “jambanja” that was led by some war veterans in July 2010.
Solanki said the hospital seizure was led by one Jeremy Sanford who appointed himself as Autoband Investment director.
The trial continues today.
