A senior official of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) who was arrested in Mozambique for allegedly dealing in foreign currency is, three months later, still languishing in jail awaiting trial.
Daniel Nyabadza, regional director for the CCJP Manicaland chapter, was arrested in Mozambique in March, for allegedly trading in fake United States dollars.
CCJP officials told The Standard that efforts by the commission and its lawyers to have Nyabadza brought before a court of law have been in vain.
Nyabadza, who is being held in squalid prison conditions, was arrested in the Mozambican town of Chimoio when he allegedly tried to facilitate a forex deal between Mozambican dealers and his cousin.
The two were arrested after it was discovered that the United States dollars they wanted to deal in were fake.
Last week CCJP national director, Tarcisius Zimbiti, said he had visited Nyabadza last month but was unable to facilitate his release or effect his trial.
"Nothing has taken place so far since his arrest. I went there (Mozambique) last month and they kept saying he would be brought to court soon but as far as I know not much has changed," said Zimbiti.
Mutare lawyer, Victor Ma-vhengero, who has been trying to secure Nyabadza's release, said there had been no progress in Nyabadza's case.
"I was trying to assist him as a friend. I am not registered in Mozambique so I cannot practise there but I was just trying to assist him. I haven't heard anything new yet," said Mavhengero.
Nyabadza is said to have tried to obtain the services of a Mozambican lawyer but this was of little help because of the language barrier. The lawyer could neither speak English nor Shona.
As in Zimbabwe, foreign currency is scarce and there is a thriving black market with many Mozambicans in urban areas earning a living from dealing in forex.
The Standard was not able to speak to Nyabadza's family at the time of going to press, but the CCJP official is reportedly being kept under heavy guard. His condition could not be immediately ascertained.
Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world, does not have a prison system.
