Elton Mangoma trial commences

The trial of former Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma on charges of abuse of public office by giving a the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) electronic voucher resale tender to OK Supermarkets without going to tender opens at the Harare Magistrates' Courts today.

Mangoma, who is pleading not guilty to the charges, is represented by Harare lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.

The State has been dragging its feet in coming up with a trial date for Mangoma since his arrest in May this year after initially indicating that it only needed a month to complete investigations.

This prompted Mtetwa last month to apply for refusal of further remand if the State failed to furnish her client with a trial date.