False start to health director’s trial
THE trial of Ministry of Health and Child Care director, Portia Manangazira, who is accused of embezzling funds that were meant for national Covid-19 awareness campaigns, had a false start yesterday because the trial magistrate was absent.
Manangazira appeared before Harare magistrate, Stanford Mambanje, who - on behalf of trial magistrate Taurai Manuwere - remanded the matter to next month.
Previously, the trial did not start because prosecutor Thabani Mpofu of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit, could not turn up.
The State now anticipates that the antigraft trial will get underway on June 21.
The allegations are that Manangazira, in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, requested funding for the voluntary community health workers’ training and deployment.
An allocation of US$796 675 was availed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, through the African Field Epidemiology Network, a Non-Governmental Organisation.
It was meant to fund training workshops for 800 community health personnel who were to carry out public awareness campaigns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Allegations are that between July 2020 and January 2021, Manangazira acted unlawfully and authorised the procurement of goods and services amounting to US$280 529, without following due process, showing favour to selected suppliers. Manangazira is also accused of sanctioning the payment of facilitation fees amounting to US$8 835 to undeserving Ministry of Health employees.
The accused is alleged to have identified 1 000 community workers for deployment across the country, without involving provincial and district medical directors or officers. The recruits were paid US$600 each for a period of three months, the court heard.
Investigations revealed that 28 of them were related to Manangazira and included her father.
Manangazira also allegedly directed the issuance of 3,290 litres of diesel coupons to privately-owned vehicles not registered with the Ministry.
Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.