Chombo faces graft charges

EXPELLED Zanu PF secretary for administration and Finance minister Ignatius Chombo is set to appear before a Harare magistrate today facing a litany of graft-related allegations.

Chombo was reportedly returned to his house on Thursday following his “detention” by the military last week.

His lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, yesterday said Chombo was detained at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after he sustained injuries while in detention and would be charged for abuse of office and corruption.

“We have agreed that they will bring him to court tomorrow at 9am. He is being charged for abuse of office basically when he was Minister of Local Government. Some of the allegations arise from his actions he allegedly did in 1997 and the latest charge being allegedly the abuse of government inputs scheme in 2005,” Madhuku said. He was picked up by the military last week during the launch of “Operation Restore Legacy” targeted at “criminals” surrounding then President Robert Mugabe.

It is alleged that Chombo was being held at King George V1 Barracks (now Josiah Magama Tongogara) since his capture.