Court Reporter
The trial of former Zifa chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya, accused of corruptly concealing transactions from a principal, failed to open again yesterday after the State made a U-turn and agreed to postpone the matter to October 23 this year. Presiding magistrate Ms Esthere Chivasa said Rushwaya’s defence counsel was wanted at the High Court hence the reason for the postponement.
“There has been a new development in our offices, it has been requested that the accused lawyers attend to a matter at the High Court. Definitely on the 23rd (October) trial has to kick off,” she said.
On Wednesday Rushwaya’s lawyer Mr Dumisani Mthombeni sought a month’s postponement after arguing he had a matter at the High Court involving Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Ms Locardia Karimatsenga.
He had also argued Mr Jonathan Samukange who is also appearing for Rushwaya was attending to a high profile case in Namibia.
Prosecutors Mr Oliver Marwa and Mr Sidom Chinzete had opposed the application arguing that Rushwaya’s defence team was given a month to prepare for the trial.
Ms Chivasa had advised Rushwaya that her trial would proceed with or without a lawyer representing her.
The charges against the former Zifa boss emanate from soccer matches the senior national soccer team, the Warriors, played in Asia.
She is alleged to have arranged trips for the national soccer team to Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Oman, Jordan, Bulgaria, China, Thailand and Yemen between 2007 and 2010 without permission from her superiors.
She is pleading not guilty to all nine counts of corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal.