Temba Mliswa acquitted in firearms act

Former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman and Hurungwe West constituency aspiring candidate, Temba Mliswa, has been acquitted of theft and illegal possession of firearms charges.

The Chinhoyi magistrate Felix Mawadze acquitted Mliswa on the grounds that the state failed to advance essential elements that proved theft or possession of the firearms.

Mawadze said the state led by prosecutor Herald Matura, failed to lead evidence to sustain a conviction. Defence lawyer Musindo Hungwe welcomed the development saying it was not surprising.

He said the case was politically driven and that the outcome proved that the wheels of justice were still turning. Mliswa was arrested recently after eight assorted rifles were found at his Spring Farm in Karoi.

The evidence led showed that Mliswa was not in possession of the firearms, but his employee Steadfind Mashiri led police detectives to a disused fowl run.

The magistrate said Mashiri should be the one to be put to his defence to explain how he knew about the firearms.

The complainant in the matter, Myles Walter Hall, who lost his rifles sometime in 2007 said Mliswa was not there when the firearms were stolen.