Former Zimbabwe Warriors fitness trainer and commercial farmer Temba Mliswa has been acquitted of charges of stealing farm equipment and cattle worth over $7 million dollars.
This followed an application for acquittal at the close of the State case by his lawyer, Charles Chinyama last month.
The State, in its response to the application yesterday, conceded that it had failed to prove a prima face case against Mliswa and told the court that from the evidence it had led from the witnesses, there were no merits to oppose Mliswa’s application.
In his ruling, regional magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi said it was clear from the evidence that Mliswa had agreements of sale for the said farm equipment and therefore, did not steal the property.
“All the eight State witnesses gave evidence favourable to the defence and the court finds there is no evidence the accused took the property unlawfully,” Mutevedzi said.
The magistrate commended the State for honourable conduct after conceding that Mliswa had no case to answer and that the witnesses contradicted themselves in their evidence.
