Harare regional magistrate Mr. Donald Ndirowei has dismissed an application by former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi challenging his placement on remand, paving the way for the commencement of his long-delayed trial.
The court has now ordered Mzembi to return on Friday for trial date allocation, marking a key step in the prosecution of the former minister, who has not appeared in court since November 2018.
This ruling comes shortly after the court confirmed three outstanding warrants of arrest against Mzembi, which were issued after his repeated failure to attend court proceedings.
Magistrate Ndirowei also rejected Mzembi’s earlier application to cancel the warrants, stating that the former minister’s continued absence was deliberate and unjustified.
Mzembi, who was facing charges related to the alleged misuse of public funds during his time in office, has been at the center of legal controversy since his departure from government. His failure to appear in court for nearly seven years had fueled speculation about the status of his case and whether justice would be served.
With this latest ruling, Mzembi’s legal woes have intensified, and all eyes are now on the court as it moves toward setting a trial date.
