BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
THE High Court has temporarily stayed the case of former Public Service minister Priscah Mupfumira, who is accused of criminal abuse of office, to March 3 to allow the determination of her application for review which was dismissed by a lower court.
The stay by the High Court is a blow to the National Prosecution Authority which had insisted on proceeding with the trial despite an application filed at the High Court by Mupfumira’s lawyers, Sylvester Hashiti and Thembinkosi Magwaliba.
Deputy chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi dismissed three applications filed by Mupfumira, namely the application for exception, adjournment for a review of the exception judgment and the application for referral to the Constitutional Court.
Mupfumira’s alleged accomplice Ngoni Masoka, represented by Farai Mushoriwa, was also granted an order of stay of proceedings to have his application for review determined.
Meanwhile, former Mines minister Walter Chidakwa and former permanent secretary Francis Gudyanga, who are also accused of criminal abuse of office had their trial pushed to today.The matter is being handled by the special anti-corruption prosecution unit.
