Kasukuwere's trial fails to kick-off again

The trial for former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere failed to kick off a second time in Harare on Thursday.

Kasukuwere, through his lawyer Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba instructed by Charles Chinyama, had requested to be furnished with documents, including minutes of certain meetings, from his time as Local Government Minister.

But prosecutor Zivana Macharaga told Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya that the paper trail no longer existed.

Against forceful demands by the defence, Macharanga agreed to subpoena the Permanent Secretary in that ministry to "release whatever documents they have".

The prosecutors and lawyers will meet on November 15 to discuss the results of the subpoena before Kasukuwere returns to court on November 21 when the trial is expected to finally get underway.

Kasukuwere initially told court that the meeting was supposed to take place between 15 and 19 October.

He then told court the meeting was shifted to November 5 to 9 but could not give documentary evidence saying he spoke with the other parties involved over the phone.

Kasukuwere is facing three counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer during his tenure as a Cabinet minister under former President Robert Mugabe government.

The first three charges were allegedly committed while Kasukuwere served as Local Government minister.

The other charge was allegedly committed while he was the Youth Development minister in which he reportedly corruptly awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital.

The first three counts were related to land issues involving former first lady Grace Mugabe's sister, Junior Shuvai Gumbochuma.

Gumbochuma has since appeared in court facing three counts of fraud and is currently on remand.