Former Public Service Minister Prisca Mupfumira has been exonerated from all criminal charges after a Harare magistrate dismissed her long-standing corruption case on Thursday.
The case, which involved allegations of embezzlement related to her daughter’s wedding, has collapsed due to the state’s failure to prosecute effectively over the past five years.
Harare Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa ruled to release Mupfumira from remand, thereby concluding all criminal proceedings against her. Mupfumira had been on remand since 2019, alongside her former secretary Ngoni Masoka, who was also implicated in the case.
Magistrate Gofa’s decision was influenced by the protracted delays in the trial process, exacerbated by the promotion of the chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi to the High Court.
This promotion halted the case’s progress, as the state struggled to proceed without the original magistrate overseeing the trial. The magistrate’s decision emphasized that it was in the interest of justice to release the accused, given the lack of advancement in the case and the extended period they had been awaiting trial.
The charges against Mupfumira and Masoka centered on allegations of misusing a US$90,000 loan from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA). The prosecution claimed that the funds were diverted to cover expenses related to Mupfumira’s daughter’s wedding in South Africa, including air tickets, accommodation, and transportation for public service employees. This misuse reportedly led to a loss of US$10,215 and ZAR113,539 for the ministry.
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Mupfumira and Masoka faced accusations of duty abuse and corruption for concealing the loan transaction, which was initially purportedly intended for purchasing a ministerial vehicle. They were also charged with failing to disclose the loan details to the Office of the President and Cabinet, as required by protocol.
Mupfumira’s lawyer, Admire Rubaya, successfully argued for the dismissal of the case, citing excessive delays and the violation of Mupfumira’s right to a timely trial. Rubaya highlighted that Mupfumira had been on remand for 1,796 days without trial, which he argued was an infringement on her legal rights and had adversely impacted her ability to perform her parliamentary duties and tarnished her public reputation.
Rubaya contended that the delays, attributed to both the elevation of the trial magistrate and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, were unjustifiable. He also noted the death of a key witness during the delay period, further compromising the state’s case.
The state acknowledged the challenges, including the transition of the trial magistrate and pandemic-related disruptions, but struggled to move forward with the prosecution effectively. As a result, the court’s decision to release Mupfumira marked the end of this case and cleared her of the accusations that had plagued her for years.
