News / Local
Fraud case sucks in Obert Mpofu
20 Mar 2012 at 03:54hrs | Views
MINES and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu should clear his name which is being "dragged in the mud", High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu has said.
Justice Bhunu said this in court yesterday when the fraud trial of Core Mining director Lovemore Kurotwi and former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa opened.
Justice Bhunu said if the two parties involved, the defence and the State, fail to call Minister Mpofu as a witness, he might summon him to give his side of the story on various allegations being raised by defence lawyers.
"After listening to the defence outlines read in this court, I find that there are very serious allegations against the minister. His name is being dragged into the mud. The allegations might also be true.
"If none of the parties calls him as a witness, I am inclined to call the minister. There are very serious allegations and the minister should come and clear his name," said Justice Bhunu.
Reading Kurotwi's defence outline, his lawyer Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa said Minister Mpofu, on two occasions, asked for money from her client after finalising the joint venture agreement.
"After signing the MOU, the minister said these words (to my recollection) 'vakomana ini ndapedza rangu basa. Chindipai mari yangu'.
"Loosely interpreted, he said 'gentlemen I have done my part, can you now pay me?' These words were in reference to a previous communication I had had with him during the negotiation, wherein he alluded to his desire to be paid if there was successful conclusion of an agreement," Kurotwi said through his lawyer.
For fear of jeopardising the deal, Kurotwi responded that "we will see in due course".
"It turned out that the minister had not forgotten his earlier demand. He demanded again, in South Africa that he be paid, during the visit by the board on August 4 before the board left for Zimbabwe and prior to the signing of the shareholders' agreement.
"It is my view that these woes, which I now have and which Core (Mining) has, are consequent to my failure to have abided by his corrupt suggestion," said Kurotwi.
Advocate Lewis Uriri also submitted on behalf of former ZMDC boss Mubaiwa that Core Mining was known to ZMDC as "the minister's project".
The court heard that Minister Mpofu pressurised Mubaiwa to sign the agreement and at times used threats.
"The second accused (Mubaiwa) will give evidence on the minister's involvement including threats made by the said minister to second accused person and to members of the board," read the defence outline.
It was also stated that Minister Mpofu introduced Mubaiwa to Kurotwi as a foreign investor and that he was required to engage him immediately to conclude a joint venture agreement.
"The second accused person was advised that the Government had become impatient with the lack of progress by ZMDC. Further, the minister and the ministry had economic targets to meet under the inclusive Government," the defence read.
The trial continues today.
Justice Bhunu said this in court yesterday when the fraud trial of Core Mining director Lovemore Kurotwi and former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa opened.
Justice Bhunu said if the two parties involved, the defence and the State, fail to call Minister Mpofu as a witness, he might summon him to give his side of the story on various allegations being raised by defence lawyers.
"After listening to the defence outlines read in this court, I find that there are very serious allegations against the minister. His name is being dragged into the mud. The allegations might also be true.
"If none of the parties calls him as a witness, I am inclined to call the minister. There are very serious allegations and the minister should come and clear his name," said Justice Bhunu.
Reading Kurotwi's defence outline, his lawyer Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa said Minister Mpofu, on two occasions, asked for money from her client after finalising the joint venture agreement.
"After signing the MOU, the minister said these words (to my recollection) 'vakomana ini ndapedza rangu basa. Chindipai mari yangu'.
"Loosely interpreted, he said 'gentlemen I have done my part, can you now pay me?' These words were in reference to a previous communication I had had with him during the negotiation, wherein he alluded to his desire to be paid if there was successful conclusion of an agreement," Kurotwi said through his lawyer.
"It turned out that the minister had not forgotten his earlier demand. He demanded again, in South Africa that he be paid, during the visit by the board on August 4 before the board left for Zimbabwe and prior to the signing of the shareholders' agreement.
"It is my view that these woes, which I now have and which Core (Mining) has, are consequent to my failure to have abided by his corrupt suggestion," said Kurotwi.
Advocate Lewis Uriri also submitted on behalf of former ZMDC boss Mubaiwa that Core Mining was known to ZMDC as "the minister's project".
The court heard that Minister Mpofu pressurised Mubaiwa to sign the agreement and at times used threats.
"The second accused (Mubaiwa) will give evidence on the minister's involvement including threats made by the said minister to second accused person and to members of the board," read the defence outline.
It was also stated that Minister Mpofu introduced Mubaiwa to Kurotwi as a foreign investor and that he was required to engage him immediately to conclude a joint venture agreement.
"The second accused person was advised that the Government had become impatient with the lack of progress by ZMDC. Further, the minister and the ministry had economic targets to meet under the inclusive Government," the defence read.
The trial continues today.
Source - TH
