FORMER Finance minister Ignatius Chombo will next month stand trial in a case in which he is accused of wearing Zanu PF party regalia without authority.
Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Friday set July 26 as the trial date for Chombo and his three accomplices, Kudzanai Chipanga, Innocent Hamandishe and Mathew Nleya, also former ruling party top officials.
Chombo will also stand trial for contravening sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act on July 18 this year.
In this case, he is accused of prejudicing Eddie Pfugari Properties of more than $200 million in a botched land deal.
On August 2, his trial for defrauding City of Harare its property worth $900 000 will commence and in this case he is appearing in the dock together with former local government ministry employees Lazarus Chimba, Rejoice Pazvakavambwa and Psychology Chiwanga.
Chombo will, again, be on trial on August 8 for allegedly defrauding businessman, Chargan Vithal Rama, of $500 000 in company share ownership transfer deal.
The ex-minister was arrested late year when the army launched the so-called “Operation Restore Legacy” in which “criminals who surrounded” then president Robert Mugabe were targeted.
He was the first minister to be arrested in the crack-down.
According to court papers, some of the allegations against Chombo arose back in the 1990s.
It is alleged that he abused his powers by illegally acquiring land, properties and also giving them to his relatives and friends.
But reports against Chombo were only made last year.
He is being represented by his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku.-NewZimbabwe
