Zimbabwe’s senior ruling party official and lawmaker Phillip Chiyangwa –in jail for 10 days over a major financial scam — was freed on Tuesday after the Zimbabwe Supreme Court ordered his release.
”He is now out, he is very relieved,” said one of his lawyers, Wellington Chimwaradze.
The court’s declaration was the third order compelling the police to release the powerful politician, whose arrest sparked speculation that it could see cracks developing within President Robert Mugabe’s governing Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).
Two High Court orders were issued in favour of Chiyangwa were ignored by the police last week, prompting him to claim his arrest was politically notivated.
He said he had become a victim of political rivalry in Zanu-PF over Mugabe’s succession.
Referring to the second High Court order, Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza, said the ”order … should be complied with.”
High court judge Tedius Karwi last Friday granted Chiyangwa bail, banished the politician from travelling outside Zimbabwe until the matter was finalised in court and ordered him to report to the police three times a week.
Chiyangwa is facing charges of obstructing the course of justice, contempt of court and perjury following his attempts to protect two directors accused of carrying our a multi-million dollar fraud at Eng Capital asset management company. – Sapa-AFP