Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya has slapped former Home affairs minister, Ignatius Chombo with a five day jail term if he fails to pay $30 fine for defaulting court yesterday.
Chombo was supposed to appear courts yesterday to answer to two different charges but failed as he was said to be in South Africa seeking medical attention.
His lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku took the blame for Chombo’s absence saying it was due to his negligence.
Madhuku said he failed to check the record that Chombo was supposed to appear in court on 30 January but rather thought he was needed to be in court today.
“The accused person was in default unwillingfully but it was due to the negligency of his lawyers who did not check the records.
“The accused was in South Africa on appointment with his doctors. From the previous record he was given his passport back to go to South African for medical attention,” said Madhuku while pleading to the court for the cancellation of Chombo’s warrant of arrest.
The former finance minister was yesterday slapped with a warrant of arrest by Magistrate Mujaya but Madhuku said court slapped his client with a warrant of arrest, he was at the High court where they are applying for a permanent stay of proceedings in all the matters Chombo is facing.
Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa however cancelled the warrant of arrest and ordered Chombo to surrender his passport back to the clerk of court.
Chombo was then remanded to 1 February 2019.
Chombo is facing many charges including criminal abuse of office and public nuisance.
