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Muchechetere trial date set

News
THE trial of former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere on charges of swindling the broadcaster of $800 000 during the procurement of an outside broadcasting (OB) van from China is expected to start on November 30.

THE trial of former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive officer Happison Muchechetere on charges of swindling the broadcaster of $800 000 during the procurement of an outside broadcasting (OB) van from China is expected to start on November 30.

by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU

Harare magistrate Adonia Masawi yesterday said the courts had delayed the trial to allow the Constitutional Court to make a determination on the constitutional matters Muchechetere raised when the trial was about to commence.

“You are remanded to November 30, 2015 for trial pending the Constitutional Court determination on your application you made,” Masawi said.

Muchechetere was being accompanied by his new lawyer Gondai Sithole.

Happison Muchechetere

It is the State’s case that sometime in January 2013, Muchechetere sealed a procurement deal for an OB van with a Chinese firm called China National Instruments Imports and Exports Corporation without going to tender.

The State alleges Muchechetere “doctored” the price of the OB van to the tune of $1 050 000.

Muchechetere is said to have flown to China where he signed an agreement concerning the inspection of the OB van.

The accused is also alleged to have stated in the agreement that the inspection of the OB van had been conducted by ZBC from June 17 to 19, 2013, yet this had not been done.

The State says preliminary investigations into the procurement of the OB van revealed that the market price for the van did not exceed $350 000 and, as such, Muchechetere prejudiced ZBC of $800 000, leading to his arrest.

Samson Mutanhaurwa and Allan Chiweshe are expected to come and testify during the trial as State witnesses in the matter.

Muchechetere is currently out of custody on a $3 000 bail coupled with reporting conditions.