Former Air Zim executives win appeal

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OWN CORRESPONDENT

Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court has quashed the convictions of two former executives of state-owned Air Zimbabwe who were convicted of fraud nine years ago.

Former Air Zimbabwe chief executive Peter Chikumba and company secretary Grace Pfumbidzayi were found guilty of abuse of office for awarding a $10 million insurance contract to a local company in 2009 without going to tender.

They were initially sentenced to an effective seven years in jail by magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni, and former High Court judge, Justice Edith Mushore dismissed their appeal in April 2017.

However, High Court judges, Justices Pisirayi Kwenda and Benjamin Chikowero on Monday quashed the 2015 conviction.

“Whereupon, after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered by consent that the conviction is quashed,” read the order.

Chikumba and Pfumbidzai have been on free bail.