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(TALKZIMBABWE) Mines Minister Mpofu implicated in fraud trial

Mines Minister Mpofu implicated in fraud trial
Posted by By Floyd Nkomo at 20 March, at 03 : 36 AM

MINES and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu has been implicated in a fraud trial involving a mining executive. High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu said Minister Mpofu may have a case to answer in a fraud trial of Core Mining director Lovemore Kurotwi and former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa.

Justice Bhunu said if the two parties involved, the defence and the State, fail to call Minister Mpofu as a witness, he might summon him to give his side of the story on various allegations being raised by defence lawyers.

“After listening to the defence outlines read in this court, I find that there are very serious allegations against the minister.

“His name is being dragged into the mud. If none of the parties calls him as a witness, I am inclined to call the minister.

“There are very serious allegations and the minister should come and clear his name,” said Justice Bhunu.

Reading Kurotwi’s defence outline, his lawyer Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa said Minister Mpofu, on two occasions, asked for money from her client after finalising the joint venture agreement.

“After signing the MOU, the minister said these words (to my recollection) ‘vakomana ini ndapedza rangu basa. Chindipai mari yangu’.

“Loosely interpreted, he said ‘gentlemen I have done my part, can you now pay me?’

These words were in reference to a previous communication I had had with him during the negotiation, wherein he alluded to his desire to be paid if there was successful conclusion of an agreement,” Kurotwi said through his lawyer.

For fear of jeopardising the deal, Kurotwi responded that “we will see in due course”.

“It turned out that the minister had not forgotten his earlier demand. He demanded again, in South Africa that he be paid, during the visit by the board on August 4 before the board left for Zimbabwe and prior to the signing of the shareholders’ agreement.

“It is my view that these woes, which I now have and which Core (Mining) has, are consequent to my failure to have abided by his corrupt suggestion,” said Kurotwi.

The court heard that Minister Mpofu pressurised Mubaiwa to sign the agreement and at times used threats.

The trial continues today.

Labels: CHINEMBIRI BHUNU, COURTS, OBERT MPOFU

posted by MrK @ 5:40 PM