THE trial of former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi failed to take off yesterday after High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero postponed the matter to January 28.
Mzembi is facing a charge of theft of trust property involving US$2 million, allegedly committed during his tenure as Tourism minister.
The former Cabinet minister, who has been in custody for nearly a year following his arrest upon returning from self-imposed exile, has reportedly been unwell for some time while on remand.
He is being represented by lawyers Killian Mudiki and Emmanuel Samundombe.
Mzembi appeared in court for a case management meeting, which brought together the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe and defence counsel to map the way forward in the matter.
Prosecutors allege that Mzembi misappropriated television sets valued at US$2 million, which were originally procured for fan parks during the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosted by South Africa.
He fled the country following the ouster of former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe in 2017, amid corruption charges and claims of political persecution.
After a brief appearance in court while represented by Job Sikhala, Mzembi applied for relaxation of his bail conditions, saying he needed to consult doctors for cancer treatment.
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Mzembi did not return, resulting in the State issuing a warrant of arrest.
He was arrested after he returned and has never been released from custody to date.
He later claimed he was being targeted politically by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
