Story by Fungai Jachi, Courts Reporter
HARARE City Council Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango together with Artkins Mandaza the Principal Contracts Administrator in the Procurement Management Unit at the local authority will spend the weekend behind bars awaiting the court’s decision on their bail application.
The court is expected to deliver its bail ruling next week Tuesday in the case of Chisango and Mandaza who are accused of criminal abuse of duty.
The state through an investigating officer from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) argued that if the duo is admitted to bail, they are most likely going to interfere with witnesses and end up jeopardising the ongoing investigations.
Another argument was that the two might flee the jurisdiction of the court and not stand trial as they are facing a serious offense which attracts a lengthy custodial sentence if convicted.
However, the accused through their lawyers argued that bail is a constitutional right, hence they should be released pending trial.
The defence further argued that the accused persons are fixed aboard, have no interests beyond the borders and they want to clear their names, hence they will stand trial.
The presiding magistrate will deliver her ruling next week on Tuesday.
Chisango and Mandaza are allegedly involved in a US$9.2 million street lights deal in which they allegedly connived with four other council officials to illegally award a tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture a company owned by businessman Moses Mpofu who is in custody on fraud charges.
