Harare – A Zimbabwe court on Saturday
released health minister Obadiah Moyo on bail following his
arrest the previous day on allegations of corruption regarding a
$60 million (R1.04 billion) deal to procure Covid-19 tests and equipment.
Sitting in Harare, the court's magistrate granted Moyo bail
for Z$50 000 ($2 000). Bail was not opposed by
prosecutors who are investigating three charges, including an "abuse of office" charge that carries a maximum sentence of 15
years.
Moyo was arrested for his dealings with Drax International
LLC and Drax Consult SAGL, companies prosecutors claim were
illegally awarded contracts by the health ministry without a
competitive tender process.
Last week Delish Nguwaya, a local representative of Drax
International, was arrested as part of the same investigation.
Drax International, headquartered in the United Arab
Emirates, has denied the allegations.
"Most of the articles published on the media are falsehood
regarding Drax International LLC," the company said in an
emailed response.
"Goods regarding Covid-19 emergency response … have been
delivered and no payment has been made by authorities in
Zimbabwe," it added.
Moyo disregarded requests by Zimbabwe’s intelligence
services, which conducted due diligence on the two firms, to
hand over the contracts, according to a charge sheet seen by
Reuters.
The contracts have since been cancelled by President
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
Moyo, who must appear in court again on July 31, is the
second minister in Mnangagwa’s cabinet to be arrested over
high-level corruption claims.
Last July, former tourism minister Prisca Mupfumira was
arraigned for corruption charges which prosecutors said related
to her previous role as labour minister overseeing a $1 billion
state pension fund.