HARARE – Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Director General Aaron Chigona has been freed by a court after the State failed to bring him to trial on allegations of criminal abuse of duty.
Chigona’s lawyer, Admire Rubaya, had argued that his client was being unfairly inconvenienced by the repeated delays, having spent over a year on remand without progress. The court ultimately ruled in Chigona’s favour, refusing further remand.
He was arrested for allegedly ordering his subordinates to approve an environmental impact assessment to a Chinese firm to work on a housing project on a wetland despite having disapproved it at first.
This according to the State was meant to show unmerited favour to the company.
The State had sought to further postpone the matter saying they needed more time to obtain a statement from the environment minister.
This was challenged by his lawyer, Rubaya, who submitted that his client was being inconvenienced by continuously coming to court without progress.
In his argument, the lawyer said his client has been on remand for over a year without progress and he cannot continue to be inconvenienced.
“The State wants us to wait until Jesus comes for the second time while the accused is on remand,” he submitted.
Regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa ruled in favour of Chigona and refused further remand.
