Former Minister of Finance Walter Mzembi has argued that the government cannot be the complainant in the case in which he is alleged to have misappropriated over $1, 6 million meant for the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly held in Victoria Falls. Mzembi is arguing that the property in question did not belong to the government and as such, only the owners of the property, the UNWTO, can have him arrested.
Speaking through his lawyer, Job Sikhala, Mzembi told Harare magistrate Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa.
Any donations raised are in terms of international law and cannot be appropriated by the State they belong to the UN agency. It is misdirection by the State in trying to draw the applicant into charges motivated by political conflict.
These assets are UNWTO as clearly outlined in the provisions of the operations of that organisation. It, therefore, means Tourism ministry cannot be the complainant the only appropriate complainant would be UNWTO.
…It would be a gross injustice to keep applicant on remand and he has nothing to answer as the issues raised can only be understood by an officer of the court, not Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption officers who just arrest after a telephone call and have no appreciation of the law.
Mzembi is being charged together with Tourism and Hospitality ministry consultant Aaron Dzingira Mushoriwa, 62, and ex-permanent secretary Margret Sangarwe, 59.
More: Daily News
muzembi is surely misguided and take his fellow Zimbabweans for fools who are unworth to make him account for his corrupt practices. was the money donated to him or to gvt . the one who donates does not audit if his donation was put to use as intended. if he does. he only do so to gets some insight on whether as a country we derserve to continue receiving more donations. by personalizing proceeds form unwto donation muzembi put the country and gvt on a blacklist of all potential well wishers. I suppose this is why the gvt through acc is suing him. its the people and gvt of Zimbabwe that he wronged and deprived of social serviced the would have got for example if the 1.6 million was put to finish the streets and roads of victoria falls that are now turning into trenches because someone used the money that was given to improve the resort to personal luxuries .he should answer to us.