The trial of former Zimbabwe Warriors fitness trainer Temba Mliswa, who is accused of stealing cattle and farm equipment worth millions of dollars, failed to resume Friday after key State witnesses failed to turn up.
Regional magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi warned the case would proceed on July 26, with or without the witnesses.
“Certainly this postponement is going to be the last, this case has been going on for a long time now and the State has on many occasions brought witnesses to court in instalments,” Mutevedzi said.
“This conduct is unacceptable. The State is given time to make final effort to bring the witnesses,” he added. Mliswa’s lawyer Charles Chinyama had opposed the postponement, saying the State was taking long to bring the matter to its finality.
Mliswa’s cases backdates to year 2002 during the land reform era. He is alleged to have stolen 40 cows and 20 weaners together with farming equipment and generators from Richard Hamilton of Bonnvale Farm in Karoi and, John Coast of Hesketh and Westland farms. The equipment is valued at over $7 million.
It is alleged that Mliswa sold part of the farm equipment stolen from the farms while retaining part of it for use at his Spring Farm in Karoi.
However, Mliswa denied the charges and submitted that he bought all the farm equipment and signed agreements of sale with both complainants.
He told the court he was surprised by the allegations against him since the said agreements were still valid and had not been cancelled by the courts.
