By A Correspondent- Former Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko has on Wednesday (today) appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Mr Enias Magate, facing charges of criminal abuse of office.

Mphoko is said to have unlawfully instructed some junior police officers to release from cells, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive, Moses Juma.

However, Mphoko argues that the release was not unlawful since the prolonged detention was against the court order which set Juma free.

Magate remanded Mphoko out of custody to September 4 on $1 000 bail and ordered him to report once a week at the CID Commercial Crimes Divisions in Bulawayo once a week.

The former VP was also ordered to surrender his passport and to reside at his given address until the matter is finalised.

He was also warned against interfering with State witnesses as part of the bail conditions.-StateMedia