HARARE – Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi was on Thursday forced to appear in court to explain why he sought to stop the trial of a man charged with 20 counts of fraud.

The defence case of Leon Gomani, 29, was Wednesday postponed after prosecutor Sheilla Mupindu told court that she had received instructions to halt the trial for three weeks from the Prosecutor General.

The presiding magistrate Morgan Nemadire refused to stop the trial saying Hodzi could not issue instructions in an ongoing trial over the phone.

Nemadire ordered Hodzi to come and explain why he had decided to halt the trial without making a formal application as allowed by the law.

“If he’s withdrawing, he should just say so. I will not pass the ruling of the postponement unless he comes because I can sense corruption in this matter,” Nemadire said.

Hodzi, appearing in court on Thursday, denied that he ordered the trial to stop for three weeks, insisting he only wanted the trial to be stopped for a few minutes.

“I appear in this court for a number of reasons, more so because I respect the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” said Hodzi.

“After yesterday’s submissions, everything is very much in order. There is nothing amiss as far as that is concerned.

“I act where I believe the integrity of the prosecution might be at risk. I was seized with the swearing in of High Court judges. I needed time to investigate the nature of complaints I received in this matter.”

Nemadire rapped Hodzi on the knuckles, telling him there were channels to be followed if he wanted to intervene in an ongoing trial.

“This is not how you handle complaints in a matter that has gone through to trial. I don’t expect you to just phone and stop proceedings. I don’t expect an instruction to stop proceedings,” said Nemadire.

The case was adjourned after Hodzi requested to have his detailed reasons for asking for a brief stop be heard in the chambers.

Gomani allegedly swindled unsuspecting suspects via EcoCash after impersonating high-profile people.

He allegedly impersonated Judicial Service Commission secretary Walter Chikwana and Zanu PF politburo member Patrick Chinamasa to dupe various people.

The two have already testified in court.

Gomani also used the names of former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Chief Justice Luke Malaba in the elaborate scam.

The two are yet to testify in the matter.