Harare — The trial of Masvingo West legislator Tichaona Mharadza (MDC-T), who is accused of abusing Government subsidised inputs under the Champion Farmer Programme, has been postponed to December 2 after it emerged yesterday that one of the State witnesses is out of the country on official business.

Mharadza, who is facing fraud charges, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire.

Mr Nemadire postponed the trial after prosecutor Mr Michael Reza told the court that Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba was in Zambia on Government business.

Allegations against Mharadza stem from alleged abuse of inputs that were made available through the National Food Security Programme in the 2008-9 season.

The inputs, the State says, were being given to farmers according to their land hectarage up to a maximum of 80 hectares.

These were loaned on condition that no farmer would redistribute, sell or divert the inputs.

They were to be recovered through a stop-order facility when farmers delivered their produce to the Grain Marketing Board.