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Nokutenda Chiyangwa\Anesu Madiye, Harare Bureau
The trial of former Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa for criminal abuse of office is scheduled to start on November 20.

Parirenyatwa (68) was arrested last month for the offence as defined in Section 174 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

He appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elisha Singano and was granted $500 bail.

Parirenyatwa was required, as part of his bail conditions, to surrender his passport to the Clerk of Court and to report twice a week — on Mondays and Fridays — at the Criminal Investigations Department, Anti-Corruption Unit at Morris Depot.

Prosecuting, Mr Michael Reza alleged that Parirenyatwa abused his position as a public officer and directed NatPharm board chairperson Dr George Washaya to terminate the contract of Ms Flora Sifeku as managing director, allegedly showing favour for Mr Newman Madzikwa, who had once been sacked from the pharmaceutical company for reportedly selling donated drugs.

At the time he was fired in September 2009, Mr Madzikwa was NatPharm’s Masvingo branch manager.

The indictment also revealed that Parirenyatwa had indicated that he required Ms Sifeku’s services at the ministry’s head office for an indefinite period.

The board, it is alleged, complied with the former minister’s directive and gave Ms Sifeku and Mr Madzikwa six months contracts each as managing directors effective June 1 to November 30 this year.

It is alleged that Parirenyatwa’s conduct created double dipping on NatPharm funds as the company was paying two salaries towards the managing director’s position, thereby prejudicing it of a total of $30 006.

The State further alleges that Parirenyatwa’s actions were prejudicial to the good administration of NatPharm and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.