After Month-Long Theatrics, Jonathan Moyo Appears Before Zacc

Jonathan Moyo

AFTER a month-long defiance during which he insisted he would never appear before a “croc-infested” anti-corruption commission, Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo finally presented himself before the agency Wednesday.

He was questioned for several hours after which the commission released him into the custody of his lawyers, pending a court appearance on Thursday.

Moyo’s lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri explained: “I can confirm that he (Moyo) was invited to assist police and ZACC with investigations.

“He voluntarily availed himself for that process. He answered questions as put to him and, at the end of that process, they immediately decided that they would be arresting, detaining and charging him.”

Uriri, who is instructed by Harare attorney, Terrence Hussein continued: “The constitutional requirements were complied with.

“The charges were put to him. He deposed a warned and cautioned statement and thereafter a request was made that he be released to his lawyers and we duly executed an indemnity.

“As regards when he appears in court, that is entirely the discretion of the police.”

Speaking on behalf of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), Phyllis Chikandura said: “We summoned him here to give his statement in connection with the allegations he is facing.

“He came with his lawyer. We will keep you updated on further developments going forward.”

Moyo is accused of misappropriating close to half a million dollars from Zimdef, a department in the higher education ministry.

He is charged together with his deputy Godfrey Gandawa, Zimdef chief executive Frederick Mandizvidza and Zimdef principal director (finance) Nicholas Mapute.

The corruption commission summoned Moyo for questioning over the allegations last month but the minister refused and reportedly evaded arrest while attending a Zanu PF politburo meeting on October 5.

Largely using social media, the minister denied misappropriating the funds, saying the money was used on constituency programmes as well as supporting rallies staged for President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.

He then claimed that the allegations were part of a tribalism-inspired vilification campaign by a Zanu PF faction reportedly led by vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The VP, according to Moyo, was in control of the anti-corruption commission, and using the agency in a bid to grab power from Mugabe.

This week Moyo issued a long statement in which he accused the Manangagwa’s faction of ‘State capture” and threatened to sue the vice president, the information minister at the State-controlled Zimpapers media group.

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