White South Africans going to US are cowards, Ramaphosa says
Former Zimbabwe finance minister Chombo to be held in custody until trial
10:53 CAT | 27 Nov 2017
Former Zimbabwe finance minister Ignatius Chombo arrives at court to face corruption charges, in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 27, 2017, Picture: Reuters
Ousted Zimbabwe finance minister Ignatius Chombo, charged with three counts of corruption for offences that allegedly took place two decades ago, was denied bail on Monday and will be detained in custody until his case is heard on Dec. 8.
Zimbabwe’s new president Emmerson Mnangagwa named Patrick Chinamasa as acting finance minister to replace him.
Chombo, who faces charges including trying to defraud the central bank, was detained after the military seized power in “Operation Restore Legacy”, which it said was meant to remove “criminals” around former president Robert Mugabe.
His lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, told reporters that he would appeal the magistrate’s ruling in the High Court on Tuesday.
“Their decision was always made up that bail would not be granted here … We are hopeful that the High Court will show independence,” Madhuku said.
Earlier, he told a packed courtroom that Chombo, who sat impassively throughout the hearing, would deny the charges at his trial and had documentary evidence showing the allegations had no basis.
The magistrate who detained Chombo said the former minister could abscond, influence state witnesses or be the target of a mob attack over the allegations that he abused his position when he was minister of local government over a decade ago.
Chombo, who was appointed finance minister in October, was among members of the G40 political faction allied to Mugabe and his wife, Grace, who were also expelled from the ruling ZANU-PF party. Two ousted ZANU-PF Youth League leaders, Kudzanai Chipanga and Innocent Hamandishe, who were both allied to G-40, were also ordered to be detained until Dec. 8.
Some Mnangagwa supporters have called for unspecified action against G40 but the president has urged citizens not to undertake any form of “vengeful retribution”.
Chombo told the court on Saturday how he was abducted from his home on Nov. 15 by armed men in “soldiers’ uniform” and kept blindfolded for nine days.
He was promoted to the finance portfolio from the interior ministry by Mugabe in an October reshuffle, replacing Chinamasa, who the chief secretary to the president and cabinet said will return to the role until a new cabinet has been appointed.
Zimbabwe is struggling with a severe shortage of the U.S. dollars it uses instead of its own currency.
Source: Reuters
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