HARARE – Former tourism minister Priscah Mupfumira was on Friday denied bail by the Harare High Court.
Justice Erica Ndewere upheld arguments by prosecutors that she is facing serious charges which may induce her to abscond.
The ruling was delivered on the 21st day of her spell in remand prison.
Mupfumira was arrested on July 24, accused of leaning on officials at the state pensions body, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), to make unsound investments of up to US$95 million, including to a bank that later made unexplained deposits into her bank accounts. She is also accused of taking money from NSSA to fund her political campaign between 2014 and 2017 when she was the public service, labour and social welfare minister.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa sacked her as minister of tourism on August 8.
Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi tendered a little-used denial of bail certificate under section 32 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act classifying Mupfumira’s complicated. A magistrate interpreted it to mean he could not hear her bail application, at least for 21 days, prompting her lawyers to approach the High Court.
Advocate Lewis Uriri, during the bail hearings, argued that bail was a right and Mupfumira had only recently returned to Zimbabwre from the United Kingdom even as she knew she was being investigated on the charges.
Prosecutor Michael Reza said investigations are complete in respect of three out of seven criminal abuse of office and fraud charges Mupfumira is facing.
Mupfumira will be back in court on August 23.
Meanwhile, Mupfumira has filed a Constitutional Court application seeking an order declaring her incarceration, through the certificate issued by Hodzi, unconstitutional.
Mupfumira’s lawyer, Charles Chinyama, confirmed the move, adding that the matter is yet to be set down for hearing.
