By A Correspondent- Former President Robert Mugabe’s dark horse, Ignatius Chombo is not yet off the hook as he this week appeared before a Harare magistrate, who indefinitely postponed the hearing of his several allegations.

Chombo appeared before Mr Stanford Mambanje and ex-Zanu PF youth leaders —Kudzanayi Chipanga, Innocent Hamandishe and Mathew Mleya on a case in which they allegedly wore some President Emmerson Mnangagwa T-Shirts while they had been suspended from involving in any zanu PF related activities.

Magistrate Mambanje differed the case pending a determination of the Supreme Court.

Chombo is also appearing on his own on criminal abuse and fraud charges and the cases were deferred to the same date.

It is alleged that on October 1, 2005, Chombo hatched a plan to defraud the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) under its “Other Crops and Livestock Support Facility”. Chombo allegedly applied for a loan amounting to $14 billion, which was to be repaid within 18 months and indicated his address as Allen Grange Farm, Rafingora.

He is said to have misrepresented that he would use the loan to buy agricultural equipment. The equipment included a 30-tonne lorry valued at $2 billion, 30-tonne truck valued at $1,5 billion, 200hp tractor four-wheel-drive valued at $2,5 billion, combine harvester valued at $5 billion, 52 dish roam disc valued at $1 billion, nine-row monosem planter valued at $1,2 billion, 2x500kg chicken feed mixer valued at $8 million.
Instead, Chombo allegedly abused the money and it was investigated and established that he had imported various motor vehicles, including a Toyota Hilux Vigo for socialite Pokello Nare, which was delivered at 222 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare