Rushwaya trial resumes

The trial of former ZIFA Chief Executive Officer Henrietta Rushwaya resumed at the Chitungwiza Regional Magistrate's court on Thursday.

The trial took less than two hours as the officials from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority - (ZTA) and Sports and Recreation Commission - (SRC) could not help the prosecution in bolstering its case.

The witnesses said they were ignorant of the charges laid against the accused.

ZTA Chief Executive Officer Karikoga Kaseke, who said he knows Rushwaya only as a colleague, said he is not privy to the charges laid against Rushwaya.

Kaseke said ZIFA and ZTA had close working ties following a memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties which resulted in them sharing programs such as the Brazil- Zimbabwe football match.

Kaseke's Lieutenant, ZTA Chief Operations Officer Givemore Chidzidzi said his role was to implement all resolutions passed by the board.

He said for the Malaysian trip he had received communication from former ZIFA Programs Officer Jonathan Musavengana about the trip.

The Director General for the SRC, Retired Colonel Charles Nhemachena, also distanced the commission from the nine counts laid against Rushwaya saying these were matters to be best handled by ZIFA and its former employee.

Rushwaya is facing nine counts of corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal following alleged unsanctioned trips to Asian countries where match fixing allegations emerged.

The trial continues Saturday at Chitungwiza Magistrate's Court.