HARARE – Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi will be tried for corruption simultaneously in two cases in late September.

Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on Friday set September 26 and 29 as dates for the commencement of Mzembi’s trials before the newly-established anti-corruption court.

In the first case, Mzembi is accused of theft after he allegedly squandered donations meant for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) 2013.

He is also accused of misappropriating $1,6 million during the same event, with prosecutors alleging that $261,386 was recovered.

In the second case, the former minister is accused of unlawfully donating television sets – leftovers from the 2010 World Cup – to churches in Harare.

Through his lawyer, Job Sikhala, Mzembi begged the court to push the second trial to December arguing it would be too taxing to deal with both trials at the same time.

But the magistrate said the lawyer should reserve the argument for the trials court.

Mzembi is accused of donating 16 television sets worth $800,000 to churches including the Walter Magaya-led Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) ministry and Emmanuel Makandiwa’s United Family International Church (UFIC), among others.

His ministry had acquired the television sets for World Cup Fan Parks which would show live matches during the duration of the tournament held in South Africa.

Mzembi then allegedly abused his duty by disposing the television screens to some churches without authority from treasury.

He denies the charge, arguing that what he did was consistent with Religious Tourism, within the purview of his ministry.

Mzembi is also facing allegations of stealing $1,6 million which was meant for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) 2013.

He is jointly charged with Tourism and Hospitality Ministry consultant Aaron Dzingira Mushoriwa, 62, and the ex-permanent secretary Margret Sangarwe, 59.

Mushoriwa, say prosecutors, was one of the consultants contracted by the Tourism Ministry to source funds on its behalf for UNWTO General Assembly preparations and hosting.

Sometime in 2011, Zimbabwe and Zambia won the bid to co-host the 20th UNWTO General Assembly Convention in August that year and Mzembi’s ministry was tasked to spearhead fundraising of resources.

On May 15, 2012, the ministry entered a contract with professional conference organisers, Rosemary Mukogo, Mushoriwa and Susan Makombe Kahudzayi.

Mbada Diamonds had pledged to sponsor the event to the tune of $2,5 million.

The court heard that between September 7, 2012, and August 12, 2013, Mbada Diamonds made several deposits amounting to $810,000 into a ZB bank account.

After receiving the funds, Mushoriwa connived with Kahudzayi and transferred $150,000 to Croco Motors for the purchase of three Ford Ranger double cab vehicles and registered them in the name of UNWTO Trust which was not existent.

The court heard that Mushoriwa and Kahudzayi also received a Tata Xenon double cab vehicle that was fully paid for by Mimosa Mining for $33,626.

Mzembi, it is alleged, then gave orders for the motor vehicles to be distributed and he got a Ford Ranger, Mushoriwa obtained the Tata Xenon, while Sangarwe and Kahudzai each got Ford Rangers.

The State was prejudiced $184,000, it is claimed.

Mzembi and Mushoriwa are accused of appropriating a further $1,6 million whose breakdown was not detailed in court papers.