Harare City Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and the city’s principal contracts administrator Artwell Mandaza will remain in custody over the weekend after their bail decision was postponed to Tuesday next week.
The State is arguing against bail, citing concerns that the two might flee or tamper with witnesses.
Chisango and Mandaza face charges of criminal abuse of office and appeared before Harare Magistrate Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa.
In its opposition to bail, the State, represented by Mr. Lancelotte Mutsokoti, called witness and investigating officer Owen Mutembwa.
Mutembwa testified that Chisango, who is an accounting officer for the City of Harare, has connections with some witnesses and could potentially disrupt the investigation. He also claimed that Chisango tried to hide some of the tender documents.
Mutembwa revealed that employees from the Procurement Management Unit reported that, upon learning about the investigation, Mandaza took the file related to the case. When questioned about his role in the procurement process, Mandaza provided documents from the file he had allegedly removed.
Mutembwa expressed concern that Mandaza might know the whereabouts of the missing file and argued that the two are not suitable candidates for bail, as their release could disrupt public order.
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