Former Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is enjoying his loot in South Africa, a State prosecutor said yesterday.
Applying for the State to forfeit one of Kasukuwere’s prime properties, his upmarket leisure home in Nyanga, anti-corruption special prosecutor Zivanai Macharaga said Kasukuwere was not bothered about returning to Zimbabwe to face trial because he knew his property was safe.
Kasukuwere is facing charges of abuse of office and was supposed to appear in court on 17 January but failed to do so.
He was given back his passport on 10 January after he produced documents showing that he needed medical attention in South Africa.
According to Newsday, Macharaga told the court yesterday: “The accused person is enjoying his loot in South Africa fully knowing that nothing will happen to his properties.
“This court must declare the accused person’s property forfeited to the State. We will not dispose his property if he appears in court within 90 days of the order.
“Even if he is sick or in good health, we are undertaking to delay forfeiture until he appears in court.”
Kasukuwere’s lawyer Thembinkosi Magwaliba said Macharaga’s application was misplaced as he had no evidence about Kasukuwere’s health condition.
Macharaga had said that Kasukuwere was not detained in hospital but was making weekly visits so there was nothing to stop him from attending court.
Magistrate Hoseah Mujaya is expected to make his ruling today.
Kasukuwere is one of several former ministers who are facing abuse of office charges.
Another former minister Walter Mzembi is also in South Africa where he is allegedly receiving medical attention.
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