ZIMBABWE
(Reuters) - A Zimbabwean court has postponed to Thursday the bail
hearing of former finance minister Ignatius Chombo, who is facing
charges of corruption dating back two decades.
Chombo,
who did not appear at the court on Wednesday, was detained after the
military seized power in "Operation Restore Legacy" mid-November, which
it said was meant to remove "criminals" around former President Robert
Mugabe.
The
High Court had been due to sit on Wednesday to hear Chombo's appeal
against a lower court ruling last week denying him bail pending his
trial on Dec. 8, but the state prosecutor said he needed time to prepare
his case.
This
is the second time the court has postponed the hearing after an initial
sitting on Friday was delayed for the same reasons. His lawyer says
Chombo will deny the allegations at his trial.
Chombo
was among members of the G40 political faction allied to 93-year-old
Mugabe and his wife, Grace, who were also expelled from the ruling
ZANU-PF party.
Ousted
ZANU-PF Youth League leader Kudzanai Chipanga's bail hearing was also
postponed to Thursday. Chipanga is facing charges of making statements
undermining public confidence in the military which helped end Mugabe's
37-year rule.
Some
supporters of new President Emmerson Mnangagwa have called for
unspecified action against G40 but the president has urged citizens not
to undertake any form of "vengeful retribution".
Mnangagwa, who was sworn in on Nov. 24, and is under pressure to root out rampant corruption stifling the economy.
Last
week, he opened a three-month amnesty window for the return of public
funds illegally stashed abroad by individuals and companies. Upon the
expiry of the amnesty at end of February next year, the government will
arrest and prosecute those who have failed to comply, he said in a
statement.
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