News / National
Mliswa acquitted of public violence
17 Dec 2013 at 21:02hrs | Views
Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa has been acquitted of public violence charges involving former party chairperson Sarah Mahoka and her entourage. Chinhoyi magistrate Mr Sam Chitumwa acquitted Mliswa after the defence applied for discharge at the close of the State case.
He said there were no reasonable grounds that would warrant his continued involvement in the case but the situation was different for nine other alleged accomplices who the magistrate said had to be put to their defence.
They were remanded to tomorrow to mount their defence.
Mr Chitumwa said the State could not establish a solid case against Mliswa as he was not present at the scene of the alleged politically-motivated violence at Zvimonja Business Centre in Hurungwe on February 22 this year.
Magistrate Mr Chitumwa said it would have been difficult for the State to prove a case against Mliswa merely on the grounds that the vehicle used by the other nine alleged accomplices is said to belong to him.
Even without Mliswa saying anything to his defence, Mr Chitumwa said the State would still struggle to establish a solid case against him. The State called seven witnesses to testify against the 10 including Mliswa who alleged he was the force behind the actions of the others.
Some of them alleged that the nine suspects shouted that they were sent to get Mahoka's head by Mliswa in the run-up to party primary elections.
Mliswa was eyeing Hurungwe West constituency which he subsequently won in the harmonised elections. Charges against Mliswa were that sometime in February, he was complicit in the violence that occurred at Zvimonja Business Centre where Mahoka was allegedly assaulted and robbed of a cellphone and cash.
Mliswa was being jointly charged with Goodwell Zinyama (49), Simbarashe Mamina (30), Christopher Munakira (35), Munyaradzi Mutami (33), Judge Mukwava (34), January Mapfundematsva (37), Livingston Muwandi, Munyaradzi Gava and Matilda Makwanya (33).
The trial of the remaining nine will continue on tomorrow.
He said there were no reasonable grounds that would warrant his continued involvement in the case but the situation was different for nine other alleged accomplices who the magistrate said had to be put to their defence.
They were remanded to tomorrow to mount their defence.
Mr Chitumwa said the State could not establish a solid case against Mliswa as he was not present at the scene of the alleged politically-motivated violence at Zvimonja Business Centre in Hurungwe on February 22 this year.
Magistrate Mr Chitumwa said it would have been difficult for the State to prove a case against Mliswa merely on the grounds that the vehicle used by the other nine alleged accomplices is said to belong to him.
Even without Mliswa saying anything to his defence, Mr Chitumwa said the State would still struggle to establish a solid case against him. The State called seven witnesses to testify against the 10 including Mliswa who alleged he was the force behind the actions of the others.
Some of them alleged that the nine suspects shouted that they were sent to get Mahoka's head by Mliswa in the run-up to party primary elections.
Mliswa was eyeing Hurungwe West constituency which he subsequently won in the harmonised elections. Charges against Mliswa were that sometime in February, he was complicit in the violence that occurred at Zvimonja Business Centre where Mahoka was allegedly assaulted and robbed of a cellphone and cash.
Mliswa was being jointly charged with Goodwell Zinyama (49), Simbarashe Mamina (30), Christopher Munakira (35), Munyaradzi Mutami (33), Judge Mukwava (34), January Mapfundematsva (37), Livingston Muwandi, Munyaradzi Gava and Matilda Makwanya (33).
The trial of the remaining nine will continue on tomorrow.
Source - Herald
