Jonathan Moyo responds to arrest calls

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who is under fire over allegations of abusing $450 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) said the police were not ready to arrest him and the courts have no jurisdiction to order his arrest.

Opposing an application by a Harare vendor, Mr Hardlife Mudzingwa to have him arrested on corruption charges, Prof Moyo deposed an affidavit stating that Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, who was cited in his official capacity as third respondent, had indicated that he was not ready to arrest him.

To that end, Prof Moyo said no one else had the discretionary power to have him arrested.

Prof Moyo said the High Court has no jurisdiction to compel such arrests.

He said Mr Mudzingwa's application was more of a political war waged against him under the guise of an urgent chamber application.

Prof Moyo denied the allegations levelled against him.

"I must state at the outset that I deny each and every allegation of impropriety levelled against me in the discharge of my constitutional mandate as a delegate of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I specifically reiterate that I have at all material times faithfully adhered to my oath of office as a public servant. I have loyally and faithfully discharged my constitutional obligations as a law-abiding citizen," the affidavit reads.

Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo yesterday deferred the hearing of the matter to Friday to allow Mr Mudzingwa's lawyers to file an answering affidavit and other papers relevant to the case.