Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 November 2009
Harare — A State lawyer who was arrested for allegedly demanding US$400 bribe from Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa to prevent his brother, a journalist with Associated Press, from publishing a murder case he alleged the ambassador was involved in has been granted US$100 bail.
Through his lawyer, Mr Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook, Rangarirai Zvauya (38), successfully applied for bail before Harare magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga.
The court, in granting the defence application, accepted submissions that Zvauya will not abscond if released.
Mr Wochiunga set his trial date for November 30.
Zvauya is facing charges of criminal abuse of office as a public officer.
Zvauya, who worked in the Civil Division of the Attorney-General's Office, was arrested while receiving marked money at Ambassador Mutsvangwa's office in the Avenues last week.
It is the State's case that on August 26 this year, Zvauya was assigned to deal with a civil matter in which Lawyers for Human Rights representing one Saliwe Nduna were suing the Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The civil matter had arisen as a result of an armed robbery which occurred at the ambassador's residence in Highlands where Ms Nduna's husband, Costa Matete, and two others were shot dead after a shoot out with police.
On October 29 Zvauya allegedly approached Ambassador Mutsvangwa and introduced himself as a law officer from the civil division of the AG's office dealing with a matter pertaining to an armed robbery case that occurred at his house involving police officers from CID Homicide Harare.
He allegedly informed the ambassador that his name was going to be published in the Associated Press publication, that he was involved in the death of Ms Nduna's husband and two others.
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