Ex-Zesa Chairman Acquitted Of Bribery: Chivhayo Remanded

Former Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) board chairperson Stanley Kazhanje who was being accused of receiving a $10 000 bribe from businessman Wicknell Chivhayo has been acquitted of the charges before plea. Kazhanje who appeared before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna together with Chivhayo was represented by Garikayi Mhishi instructing advocate Taona Nyamakura.

The former Zesa board chairperson served jail time at the Chikurubi Maximum Prison after he concealed a transaction between him and Chivhayo to his principals and upon release from prison he was again jointly charged with Chivhayo for bribery. Kazhanje then filed an application for exception saying he cannot be charged again on the same facts which he served time at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

In his ruling magistrate Nduna said the constitution is there to protect suspects from double jeopardy. Nduna said Kazhanje was tried by a competent court on the same allegations and he was convicted and it will not be in the interest of justice to retry the suspect on the same facts.
The magistrate said upon these facts Kazhanje is found not guilty and has been acquitted.

The magistrate remanded his co-accused Chivhayo to May 13 for trial.
Chivhayo last month denied depositing US$10 000 into Kazhanje’s bank account but said his company Intratek Zimbabwe did.
“The second accused (Chivhayo) did not transfer US$10 000 into the account of Stanley Nyasha Kazhanje as alleged or at all. The first accused (Intratrek Zimbabwe) did transfer the sum of US$10 000 into the account of Stanley Nyasha Kazhanje, ” Chivhayo’s lawyer said.
Chivhayo said the transfer was not for the purposes alleged by the State, but was made prior to Kazhanje’s appointment to the ZPC board and for professional services rendered. NEWSDAY