By A Correspondent- Former cabinet minister who served under the late Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe Nicholas Goche has been granted $50 000 bail.

Goche,  who was arrested for allegedly stealing 18 cattle was granted bail by a Bindura magistrate Thursday.

As part of his bail conditions, he was also ordered to surrender his passport, continue residing at the given address, report at the nearest police station every Friday and to not interfere with state witnesses.

It is the state’s case that on 13 November 2018, Goche sold 40 beasts to one Mupanedengu and the payment for the cattle was made through a bank transfer into a CABS account number 1036879593.

Mupanedengu collected only 22 heifers out of the 40, leaving behind 18 beasts. However, in 2019, Goche reportedly disposed of the 18 heifers without the complainant’s knowledge.

Mupanedengu reportedly tried to collect his remaining beasts to no avail and he was informed that his cattle had already been sold.

The value of the cattle was pegged at US$18 000 and nothing was recovered.

However, exiled former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo said Goche is being prosecuted because President Mnangagwa has a score to settle with him,

Tweeted Moyo:

What? Something fishy. It is an open secret in Zanu PF corridors that Mnangagwa has unfinished business with Goche. Details of the case would be interesting to unpack