MARTIN MAWAYA
Two of the eight suspected Gweru illegal foreign currency dealers who have been languishing in prison for more than two months, breathed a sigh of relief after Masvingo High Court Judge, Justice Sunsley Zisengwe granted them US50 bail each.
Abraham Mafukidze (24) and Julius Nyamapfeni (41) were initially denied bail by Gweru Provincial Magistrate, Beaulity Dube on May 13, 2024, after being charged with violating the country’s exchange control regulations.
However, they successfully appealed against the refusal of bail through their lawyer, Esau Mandipa.
Mandipa argued that his clients were never dealing in foreign currency and that there were no compelling reasons for the magistrate to deny them bail.
He further told the court that it is not an offence to transact in United States dollars in Zimbabwe since the country operates a multi-currency regime, and the United States Dollar is one of the multi-currency pool.
Granting the bail, Justice Zisengwe ordered Mafukidze and Nyamapfeni to deposit US$50 or its equivalent in Zimbabwean currency through the Clerk of Court, Gweru Magistrates’ Court.
The duo was also told to reside at the given address and to report to the police once a week.
According to the state’s case, on April 23, 2024, around 11:30am, Mafukidze and Nyamapfeni were arrested at Chicken Inn while conducting a transfer transaction of US$2.
They were nabbed by three detectives who were on surveillance duty, targeting illegal foreign currency dealers.
