Former ZESA Chairman Acquitted Of Bribery
Former Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) board chairperson Stanley Kazhanje has been acquitted on bribery charges.
Kazhanje was being accused of receiving a US$10 000 bribe from businessman Wicknell Chivhayo. He was acquitted of the charges before plea.
Kazhanje who appeared before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna together with Chivhayo was represented by Garikayi Mhishi instructing advocate Taona Nyamakura.
He had already served jail time at the Chikurubi Maximum Prison after he concealed a transaction between him and Chivhayo to his principals.
But upon release from prison, he was again jointly charged with Chivhayo for bribery.
Kazhanje then filed an application for exception saying he cannot be charged again on the same facts which he served time at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
In his ruling magistrate Nduna said the constitution is there to protect suspects from double jeopardy.
Nduna said Kazhanje was tried by a competent court on the same allegations and he was convicted and it will not be in the interest of justice to retry the suspect on the same facts.
The magistrate said upon these facts Kazhanje is found not guilty and has been acquitted.
Meanwhile, Nduna remanded his co-accused Chivhayo to 13 May for trial.
