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Midlands Correspondent
TWO Ministry of Health and Child Care officials and an administrator at Mnene Hospital who were facing allegations of criminal abuse of office have been acquitted.

Gweru regional magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire acquitted the trio on Friday last week.

Mnene Hospital administrator Ziboniso Noel Moyo, National Procurement Officer Wilbert Madenga, National Projects and Planning Officer Richard Dharara were freed after the State failed to prove that Government had jurisdiction over tendering procedures at Mnene Hospital.

All witness failed to prove that Moyo was a public officer.

Lawyers representing the trio, Mr Misheck Hogwe and Mr Reyson Gumbo, applied for discharge at the close of the State case.

They argued that the State led by Mr Fred Kadodo failed to substantiate its claims beyond reasonable doubt.

Two State witnesses turned hostile and refused to testify.

Mr Innocent James, a deputy director for administration and logistics in the Ministry of Health and Child Care refused to testify.

He professed ignorance over the matter.

Another State witness, Mr Tafara Muvirimi, deputy director hospital planning, also claimed that he was not aware of the allegations.

Allegations were that the officials connived with two senior Government officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to forge the permanent secretary’s date stamp to approve tenders resulting in the Lutheran-run institution being prejudiced of about $400 000.

Mnene, which is Mberengwa’s biggest referral hospital servicing 35 clinics and four rural hospitals, was given a $700 000 grand by the Government under the targeted approach programme in 2011 meant to improve health service delivery.

The three allegedly connived to ride over tender without the authority of the State Procurement Board which is mandated by the Procurement Act to preside over all tendering procedures and procurement of goods, services, equipment worth over $50 000.