By A Correspondent- The acting general manager of the government drugs supplier, the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), has been freed on bail pending appeal after he was jailed for raising the prices of drugs.

Justice Moses Foroma of the Harare High Court said Newman Madzikwa, jailed by a magistrate for an effective 14 months last week, had good prospects of success with his appeal against both conviction and sentence as he freed him on ZW$1,000 bail.

Madzikwa was convicted of criminal abuse of office by Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya for hiking drug handling fees from four percent to 15 percent. 

As part of his bail conditions, Madzikwa was ordered to report to the police every Friday and surrender his passport.

Madzikwa maintained during his trial that the decision to raise the cost of handling medicines on behalf of government hospitals and dispensaries had board approval. 

But his trial magistrate labelled his decision a “bad crime” and “corruption”. Madzikwa is represented by Harare lawyer, Harrison Nkomo.