Mzembi’s appeal trashed, High Court rules ex-minister “took the court for granted”

📅 Published: August 26, 2025

📰 Source: newzimbabwe

Curated by AllZimNews.com

Clearly, the evidence was not convincing. ” Mzembi, who fled the country in 2018 after being granted temporary release of his passport for medical treatment in South Africa, only resurfaced in June 2025.

He argued that his cancer treatment explained his absence and that changed circumstances, including the withdrawal of charges against his co-accused, warranted his release on bail.

But the judge was unmoved, stressing that “the existence of new facts does not automatically result in the applicant being granted bail. ” Dembure found that Mzembi’s conduct had caused the prolonged delay in bringing the case to trial: “His long absence from the jurisdiction of the court clearly caused the delay in the finalisation of his case.

Having made his bed, he must lie on it. ” The court also rejected arguments based on property title deeds tendered as surety. “Those averments do not plead the issue of title deeds as a ground for bail on changed circumstances,” ruled Dembure. “If the court was convinced that, despite the long default, he could be trusted with his liberty, it would have accepted them earlier.

It did not. ” Concluding, the judge said there was no basis to interfere with the magistrate’s original decision to revoke Mzembi’s bail. “The appeal is completely without merit.

It must fail,” he ruled.

Mzembi will remain in custody pending trial. 🔗

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