By Victor Fanuel
HARARE — The High Court has granted Walter Mzembi bail pending judgment in a criminal abuse of office case, marking a significant turn in a protracted legal battle that has kept the former cabinet minister in custody for months.
According to court papers dated May 4, 2026, Justice Justice Chikowero ordered that Mzembi be released on bail of US$1,000 while awaiting judgment.
The ruling followed submissions from his legal counsel, with the State represented by prosecutors in the matter.
The court imposed strict conditions, ordering Mzembi to reside at a Harare address, remain within a 30-kilometre radius of the High Court, and surrender his passport to authorities.
Mzembi is facing charges of criminal abuse of office as a public officer under Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The bail decision comes after months of pre-trial incarceration.
Mzembi had previously been denied bail by lower courts and the High Court, with judges citing concerns that he was a flight risk after spending several years outside the country.
He was arrested in June 2025 upon returning to Harare following a lengthy period outside Zimbabwe linked to outstanding warrants on corruption-related allegations.
Earlier rulings also saw his bail revoked after the court determined he had defaulted previous proceedings, reinforcing the State’s argument that he might abscond if released.
The charges against Mzembi stem from his tenure as tourism minister, where he is accused of misusing public resources, including allegations involving the disposal of television sets acquired for public viewing during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and funds linked to the 2013 UNWTO General Assembly.
Mzembi, who also served as foreign affairs minister, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
His case has drawn wider scrutiny within Zimbabwe’s justice system, particularly over concerns about prolonged pre-trial detention and prison overcrowding, with legal experts calling for broader application of bail in non-violent cases.
With bail now granted pending judgment, attention shifts to the High Court’s forthcoming ruling, which will determine Mzembi’s legal fate in one of Zimbabwe’s most closely watched corruption cases involving a former senior government official.
