Zimbabwean Deputy Justice Minister Obert Gutu has called for an inquiry into allegations by the local branch of Transparency International that Attorney General Johannes Tomana used his powers to suppress criminal charges against four close friends.
Transparency International Zimbabwe has charged that Tomana advanced the acquittals of former Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga, former Zimbabwe United Passenger Company Chairman Charles Nherera, mine owner Patrick Mavros and Bindura doctor Beauty Basile who were facing various criminal charges.
Gutu, who belongs to the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that Zimbabweans should implicitly trust whoever serves as attorney general given the nature of the job.
Attorney General Tomana responded that if he has committed a criminal offense by abusing his office he should be prosecuted, but warned that the MDC deputy justice minister risked committing a crime by questioning how he discharges his duties.
