THE STATE
versus
SIMON MUDZINGWA TARANHIKE
and
SHADRECK MATENGABADZA
and
STEPHEN MATUTE
and
GIVEMORE TENDAI KUFA
and
PRECIOUS MUROVE
HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE
TSANGA J
HARARE, 29, 30, 21 January, 1, 2, 5, & 8 February, & 24 April 2018
Assessors 1. Mr Chidyausiku
2. Mr Msengezi
Criminal Trial
C. Mutangadura, for the State
Ms R Maposa, for 1st to 5th accused persons
TSANGA J: The five accused persons were charged with criminal abuse of duty as public officers as defined in s 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. The allegations against them were that between 3-23 May 2017, at ZINARA, the five accused had unlawfully and in common purpose with each other, in the exercise of their functions and contrary to their duties as public officers, engaged third party companies to source foreign currency on the informal market on behalf of ZINARA. This was in their capacities as Finance Director, Finance Manager, Accountant, Regional Engineer North, and Director Administration and Human Resources of ZINARA. The companies in question whom they were said to have sourced were Access Finance (Pvt) Ltd, Grayriver (Pvt) Ltd, and, Caudless Trading (Pvt) Ltd. The five accused were said to have made payments amounting to US$2 940 558.69 to these three companies as consideration towards the
