Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has been granted US$1 000 bail by the High Court, with strict conditions requiring him to remain within a 30-kilometre radius of Harare, ending an 11-month stay in remand prison as he awaits the outcome of his corruption trial.
Justice Benjamin Chikowero ruled on Monday that the 62-year-old could be released pending final judgement.
Mzembi is facing allegations linked to an estimated US$2 million loss to the State, reportedly arising from his authorisation of the unapproved donation of television sets that had been procured for fan parks during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains that the charges are politically motivated.
He was arrested on 14 June 2025 upon returning to Zimbabwe after nearly seven years in exile, during which he lived in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia.
His arrest followed longstanding charges of criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property dating back to his tenure as Tourism Minister.
Upon his return, Mzembi was taken into custody at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and initially denied bail after being deemed a flight risk.
The court also upheld three outstanding warrants of arrest and ruled that his absence from court proceedings since 2018 had been deliberate, despite submissions from his legal team citing ongoing medical treatment abroad, including for cancer.
As part of his bail conditions, Mzembi is required to surrender his passport, reside at a specified address, remain within a 30-kilometre radius of Harare, and report regularly to the police. He is expected to be released once all administrative processes have been completed.
Mzembi previously served as the final Foreign Affairs Minister under late former president Robert Mugabe before the 2017 Zimbabwean coup that brought President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power.
Following the political transition, he left the country alongside other senior officials aligned with the G40 faction, which opposed Mnangagwa’s rise.
While the case is set to proceed, concerns remain that Mzembi’s reported health condition could affect the pace of the legal process.
In August last year, he was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where medical personnel at Zimbabwe’s largest hospital raised concerns about shortages of essential drugs and equipment, saying these were affecting patient care.
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