HARARE – Prisca Mupfumira, the former Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, has been cleared of all charges and released from remand after the State failed to pursue her case.
She had been accused of misappropriating a US$90,000 loan from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and using government funds to fly ministry staff to her daughter’s wedding in South Africa.
Mupfumira’s case was initially put on hold when Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi, who was presiding over the matter, was elevated to the High Court in 2023.
Although the High Court subsequently ordered the case to be revived, the State’s failure to make progress has ultimately led to Mupfumira’s release, with all charges against her being dropped.
Mupfumira had been jointly charged with Ngoni Masoka for criminal abuse of duty.
However, after filing multiple petitions that yielded no results, her attorney, Admire Rubaya, submitted an application for refusal of further remand, which was approved by Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.
The ruling effectively brought an end to all criminal proceedings against Mupfumira.
The two were facing allegations of abuse of duty as a public officer and corruptly concealing a transaction involving a US$90 000 loan application from NSSA for the purchase of a supposed ministerial vehicle and not disclosing it to the office of the President and Cabinet.
Mupfumira was also accused of instructing the finance director in the Ministry to facilitate the payment of air tickets for her aides to attend her daughter’s wedding in South Africa and facilitating the payment of accommodation and transport which prejudiced the ministry of US$10 215 and ZAR113 539.
In her application through Rubaya, Mupfumira said she has been on remand for 1 796 days and with no progress which she described as inordinate delay.
The delay in finalising the matter has prejudiced her from properly executing her senatorial duties and subjecting her to constant attacks in society which is a violation of her rights.
“The application is motivated by the fact that the accused person has been prejudiced for a long period of time by the state through its failure to have this matter set down for trial.
“The actual prejudice has reached to affect her day-to-day life including her national duties that has been designated to her as a member of the Senate.
“The prejudice has also affected her to the extent that her name remains tarnished in the social domain and her right to be heard within a reasonable time has been outrightly infringed,” she argued.
In response, the State said the matter was delayed by a number of factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in lockdowns.
The State also said a key witness in the matter died, which called for alternative evidence from another witness.
The court, however, said the two cannot be prejudiced by the State’s delay in setting down the matter for trial since last year when it was ordered to commence de novo.
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