Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi appeared before a Harare court today to stand trial on allegations of theft of trust property linked to his time as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism.
The charges relate to television sets reportedly valued at approximately US$2 million, which were procured for public viewing fan parks during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The equipment was intended to allow football supporters across the country to watch matches during the global tournament.
According to prosecutors, the television sets were allegedly unlawfully converted for personal use while Mzembi was still in office. The State argues that the equipment, acquired for public benefit, was misappropriated instead of being deployed as planned for community viewing centers.
Mzembi has previously denied the allegations, maintaining that he did not misuse the property in question. The matter now proceeds to trial, where the court will examine evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense.
The case marks another significant development in Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to address high-profile corruption allegations involving former public officials. Further details are expected to emerge as proceedings continue.
