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Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya’s sophisticated smuggling ring has dragged in two senior Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers, Nhau can report.
The former ZIFA boss is currently in custody after the State reneged on its earlier decision to consent to her being granted bail after Garudzo Ziyaduma from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) told Harare magistrate Ngoni Nduna that she was no longer a good candidate for bail as investigations had unearthed a syndicate with a wider ring involving the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
“The ZRP confirms that six more suspects have been arrested in connection with the gold smuggling investigation on Henrietta Rushwaya. These are Ali Mohamad, Gift Karanda, Stephen Chenjerai Tserayi, Raphios Mufandauya, Superintendent Shoko and Detective Chief Inspector Chimhungu.”
Yesterday police nabbed Ali Mohammed of the car dealership Ali Japan786, believed to be the source of the gold bars found in Rushwaya’s possession, Steven Cherai and Rafius Mupandauya from the CIO, and Gift Karanda who are all in custody and expected to appear in court tomorrow.
Tapson Dzvetero, Rushwaya’s lawyer yesterday accused the State of succumbing to undue influence in making a U-turn on its earlier decision not to oppose his client bail asking it to submit reasons for its earlier decision.
“It clearly shows that there was some interference in the due process. Why a sudden summersault?”
“These concessions cannot be withdrawn willy-nilly in criminal cases; they should be informed and properly done giving the accused an opportunity to make submissions. Such withdrawal of concessions will in most cases result in prejudice to the other side,” he said.
However Ziyaduma denied this saying that there was nothing amiss about the State’s decision as she would be given the opportunity to defend herself worthy to be granted bail.
“The State does not have dirty hands on the approach it took to oppose bail. There is no prejudice to the accused and the rationality in arriving at that, the accused will be given an opportunity to prove that she is a perfect candidate for bail.”
Magistrate Nduna ordered that he will hand down his ruling over the matter on Friday morning after evaluating all the literature and legal points raised during arguments by both parties. Nhau/Indaba
