🇿🇼ZimbabweSouthern Africa
Former Vice-President Mphoko's discharge review application dismissed by High Court
via NewsDay Zimbabwe6 min read
Former Vice-President Phelekhezela Mphoko, who faces charges of criminal abuse of office, had his application for a review of a magistrate's decision to dismiss his discharge application rejected by the High Court. Mphoko was arrested after the November 2017 coup that removed former President Robert Mugabe from power. He is accused of interfering with police duties by demanding the release of two Zimbabwe National Road Administration officials, Moses Juma and Davison Norupiri, who were detained for corruption. High Court Justices Benjamin Chikowero and Pisirayi Kwenda dismissed Mphoko’s application, ordering that his case proceed to trial. Mphoko had sought a review of magistrate Tranos Utawashe's refusal to discharge him at the close of the State case. The High Court judges stated there were no exceptional circumstances to justify their interference with the ongoing proceedings in the lower court. Mphoko's defense claimed he was executing an order from the late former President Robert Mugabe, based on state secrets, to prevent harm to Juma and Norupiri. Magistrate Utawashe had previously ruled that a vice-president cannot interfere with police work and that Mphoko's actions were inconsistent with his duties, requiring him to explain his conduct in the defense case.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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