Former Affirmative Action Group (AAG) leader Mike Chimombe was on Tuesday 27 September 2022 released on ZW$50 000 bail after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) did not oppose bail during his arraignment on fraud charges.
Magistrate Dennis Mangosi said the NPA represented by Pardon Dziva must sign a consent paper before Chimombe’s release at 2 PM.
Chimombe, a Harare dealer arrived at the Harare Magistrates Court to face fraud charges for allegedly swindling a Harare businessman Brian Marungamise of US$16 900 after selling him a non-existent housing stand.
Chamber who is regarded as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally was arrested on Monday 26 September 2022 on allegations of fraud.
Chimombe was picked up from his Borrowdale Brooke residency by Criminal Investigative Detectives on Monday after allegedly refusing to be arrested by uniformed Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers.
Brian Marungamise is said to have paid US$16 900 for the stand in Tynwald, before discovering that he had been swindled.
Police Monday said Chimombe’s accomplices, Heymish Katsande (33) and Steven Chimombe (33) were arrested in July 2022 and have already appeared in court where the matter was remanded to 26 October 2022.
Critics predicted that Chimombe’s case will just vanish, “like many others,” saying there was the “catch and release” of well-connected people.
They say the arrests are meant to hoodwink members of the public into believing that the government was serious about fighting corruption when it was actually not.
