Court grants temporary reprieve for Chombo

Source: Court grants temporary reprieve for Chombo – DailyNews Live

Farayi Machamire      9 March 2018

HARARE – Former Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo, facing charges of
criminal abuse of office, has been successful in having his bail
conditions relaxed by the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.

Chombo made the application through his lawyer Lovemore Madhuku to be
allowed to report twice a week at Marlborough Police Station on Monday and
Friday between 6am and 6pm.

Chombo has been reporting at the same precinct three times a day, meaning
he was reporting to the police 21 times a week.

Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba did not object to Chombo’s application and
concurred with Madhuku’s argument that indeed Chombo had been religiously
following his bail conditions.

Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande conceded that Chombo was a suitable
candidate to have his bail conditions relaxed, noting it would not
prejudice the delivery of justice.

His case was remanded to April 6.

In the bail application, Chombo had argued that he was now depending on
farming on a full-time basis at his farm in Rafingora.

“This is a drastic change of circumstances. The applicant has a
constitutional right to keep his life intact and fend for his family,”
argued his lawyer in the bail application.

The former Cabinet minister is facing a slew of charges that could
potentially earn him a combined 55 years in prison if convicted.

In this particular case, Chombo is being charges with  violating Section
4(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 9:16) by allegedly
conniving with employees from the Local Government, Public Works and
National Housing ministry to forge documents used to transfer a Glen Lorne
residential property from the Harare City Council to a certain individual.