Wadyajena off the hook; ZACC fails to provide docket despite claims of overwhelming evidence

Hararee- GOKWE Nembudziya legislator Mayor Wadyajena and four Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) bosses have been cleared of all charges by Harare Magistrate Taurai Manuwere in a US$5,8 million fraud case.

Manuwere based the decision on Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC) failure to produce their dockets despite previous claims it had overwhelming evidence against the five accused.

Wadyajena was being charged alongside Pious Manamike, Chiedza Danha, Fortune Molai and Maxmore Njanji.

The State’s delays in completion of investigations was also pointed out as a reason for acquitting them. As a result Manuwere said the matter could not go to trial.

Lead defence lawyer Oliver Marwa last week told the court that his clients, who are all business persons, were being inconvenienced by consistently coming to court with no progress on investigations into the case.

Wadyajena and his co-accused had sought removal from remand based on delays by the state.

“What this means is that our clients have essentially been acquitted by the court because they have no evidence since they want to go to other jurisdictions,” said Marwa after Monday’s development.

The accused had been on remand since August 16, 2022.

ZACC had, as part of investigations seized the accuseds’ property which included vehicles and land.