News / National
Suspended Zanu-PF official acquitted of stealing Mugabe's cattle
09 Jul 2013 at 05:51hrs | Views
SUSPENDED Zanu-PF Manicaland vice-chairperson, Dorothy Mabika, has been acquitted of stock theft and obstruction of justice charges she was facing.
Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekesai Chiwundura, cleared Mabika of the charges yesterday as the defence counsel, Mr Tinofara Hove of Hove and Partners was about to call his sixth witness to give evidence.
The case was cut midway as the three last witnesses Mr Hove had called to give evidence failed to make it into the dock as Mrs Chiundura handed judgment.
Mr Hove told reporters that his client did not steal anything as proven by the acquittal.
Allegations against Mabika were that on September 7, 2011 at Shiriyakangwara Farm in Chipinge she received six dairy calves on behalf of Zanu-PF from a farmer, Dawid Hercules Jourbert.
Instead of handing over the cattle to the party, she allegedly converted the donation to her own use.
Mabika then allegedly doctored papers at the party's provincial offices.
She is alleged to have purported that the six cattle had died of hunger due to lack of stock feed, the court heard.
The State alleged that this was meant to cover up the theft.
Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekesai Chiwundura, cleared Mabika of the charges yesterday as the defence counsel, Mr Tinofara Hove of Hove and Partners was about to call his sixth witness to give evidence.
The case was cut midway as the three last witnesses Mr Hove had called to give evidence failed to make it into the dock as Mrs Chiundura handed judgment.
Mr Hove told reporters that his client did not steal anything as proven by the acquittal.
Allegations against Mabika were that on September 7, 2011 at Shiriyakangwara Farm in Chipinge she received six dairy calves on behalf of Zanu-PF from a farmer, Dawid Hercules Jourbert.
Instead of handing over the cattle to the party, she allegedly converted the donation to her own use.
Mabika then allegedly doctored papers at the party's provincial offices.
She is alleged to have purported that the six cattle had died of hunger due to lack of stock feed, the court heard.
The State alleged that this was meant to cover up the theft.
Source - herald
