Paul Nyathi|After high profile revelations that Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring, Joram Gumbo had been expectedly arrested for corruption on the Zimbabwe Airways Saga, the Minister has not been delivered to the justice system for trial but set free, maybe just for now.
Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission chairperson Justice Matanda-Moyo indicated yesterday that Gumbo was removed from court roll amid reports that some whistle-blowers visited ZACC offices with more allegations against him.
Gumbo was being quizzed yesterday on further allegations after he and the ZACC team were recalled from court to the ZACC headquarters as whistle-blowers levelled more allegations against the former.
The minister will now be released, but be summoned for trial when investigations are complete.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said her office had received more information with the potential of generating three fresh charges against the minister.
“Following his arrest, certain informants rushed here with more evidence. We had to recall him from court in order for us to further investigate and verify the new allegations being raised.
“We are in the process of recording statements from the witnesses and we will then call him to give his side of the story later. He is likely to be charged with additional three charges,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
The ZACC boss said witnesses came from as far as Kariba and if the evidence is proved to be credible, Gumbo will face the extra charges.
“We will allow him to go home while we prepare the necessary papers for him to go to court,” she said.
Gumbo, was investigated for allegedly issuing corrupt directives during his tenure as Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister.
He is accused of reinstating fired Civil Aviation Authority (CAAZ) managing director David Chawota and Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) managing director Davison Mhaka after the two had been legally and separately fired for misconduct by disciplinary tribunals.
He is also accused of showing favour to his relative Mavis Gumbo by arranging for her to rent out her house to Zimbabwe Airways, with the Government paying US$1 million for alterations and renovations despite the fact that she received the full rent.
Explaining Gumbo’s release, Harare lawyer Mr Gwinyai Shumba said if one is allowed to go home, they can be summoned to court when the investigations are complete.
“The 48-hour period during which one is supposed to be taken to court upon arrest only applies to those in custody.
“If one is released after being charged, there is no specific time frame in which you should be taken to court,” he said.
Mr Shumba, who served as a prosecutor for a long time, said one is considered charged upon the recording of a warned and cautioned statement.