Tich Mataz trial date set for 25 February

The trial of former Star FM presenter Tichafa Matambanadzo, who is accused of swindling a Harare choreographer of $5 000, has been set.
Harare magistrate Elijah Makomo remanded the matter to February 25 for commencement of trial.
Proceedings in the matter had been stalled because one of the accused persons Edith Chinyangare was absent. According to state papers, she was on the run and was recently put into police custody.
Matambanadzo is jointly charged with retired Airforce of Zimbabwe, air commodore Remigio Takaedza Zimondi and Chinyangare.
The court heard how Matambanadzo and Zimondi, working with Chinyangare, allegedly lied to Jimmy Makurumband,i a choreographer at Tumbuka Dance Company, that they could include him on a government trip they were organising to Geneva if he paid $5 000, which was going to be refunded upon their return.
Makurumbandi is alleged to have paid the money after Zimondi had told him that as a top soldier under the travel sanctions by the West, he could not travel.
Sometime in April 2011, Chinyangare and Matambanadzo went to Onesky Travel Agency and made a booking for the air tickets which they never paid.
On April 6 2011, Zimondi invited Mukurumbandi to a meeting at Holiday Inn in Harare where Matambanadzo and Chinyangare were also present.
Mukurumbandi was informed of the travel date after being shown an itinerary on an electronic air tickets.
He later contacted Chinyangare but was informed that the trip had been cancelled and that they would be travelling to Taiwan.
Chinyangare later told Mukurumbandi that the Taiwan trip had also been cancelled and that he would be refunded $5 000.
Mukurumbandi later made follows to get the refund but soon learnt he had been duped. He subsequently made a police report against accused persons.