HARARE – Former Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was charged with criminal abuse of office on Tuesday, before being released on $3,000 bail.

Kasukuwere was arrested on Monday after surrendering himself to the police having been out of the country since June 25.

He was formerly charged with four counts of criminal abuse of office. Three of the charges relate to land allocations made to Grace Mugabe’s sister Shuvai Gumbochuma while he was Local Government Minister, and a fourth charge arose from alleged tender violations in granting investment firm, Brainworks, a tender to perform brokerage services to the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.

Kasukuwere was taken to court late afternoon Tuesday, and his bail hearing ran into the evening.

His lawyer Jonathan Samukange said the charges were “very, very, very weak”.

Acting Prosecutor General made a surprise appearance in court, telling magistrate Hosea Mujaya at the start of proceedings that he was trying to familiarise himself with the duties of prosecutors.

“Your Worship, you might be wondering why I’m appearing before you. I was paying a courtesy call as the Acting Prosecutor General to familiarise myself with the duties of my officers and see how they operate,” he said.

“From time-to-time, I will be making myself available as cases of corruption and criminal abuse of office have public interest and it is incumbent upon me as the PG to appear before you. My soldiers (prosecutors Michael Reza and Zivanai Macharaga) are well-equipped as I have given them instructions.”

Charged … Saviour Kasukuwere seen here arriving with his lawyer and detectives was hit with four corruption charges (iZimPhoto/Photo JEKESAI NJIKIZANA)

The prosecutors argued against bail, stating that Kasukuwere was a flight risk. The court heard he only returned to Zimbabwe fearing arrest under an Interpol warrant that Zimbabwe had sought.

If bail was to be granted, the prosecutors asked the magistrate to set it at $100,000 and order that he surrenders title deeds to property worth $5 million.

The magistrate concurred with Samukange that bail was a right, even in serious cases. He ordered the once powerful Zanu PF politician to surrender his passport and title deeds to his house in Nyanga, report to police once a week and not to interfere with state witnesses.