Lasch Investments officials acquitted

Lasch Investments officials, who are accused of duping 120 farmers in a botched farming inputs scheme, were acquitted after former Zanu-PF youth secretary Absolom Sikhosana's evidence exonerated them. Harare magistrate Ms Sandra Mupindu said: "The first witness, Absolom Sikhosana was more like a defence witness. He abandoned the State case and was at pains to understand why the accused were being tried.

"There was no fraud from what Sikhosana said, the farmers were aware that Lasch Investments was negotiating for Government guarantee.

"The farmers assumed the risk knowing that the scheme was not in place."

Lasch Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd was jointly charged with Zanu-PF director for Youth Affairs and Indigenisation Tapiwa Zengeya (48).

The officials are: Managing director Mr Evans Zininga (34), Nelson Mahupete (44), Patience Chipere (38), Christopher Tegwe (46), Fungai Mudondo (38), Shiella Taderera (40), Stephen Mapfumo (43), Charles Mashumba (46) and Lovemore Machanzi (60).

In their application for discharge at the close of State's case, the group said the State failed to prove essential elements of the case against them.

"There is no evidence on which a reasonable court acting carefully might properly convict," read the application. Evidence by five witnesses is unreliable and the court cannot safely act on it. The first witness Absolom Sikhosana exonerated all the accused.

"It seems the State was not conducting a trial but an inquiry on how the scheme collapsed."

The prosecutor Mr Norman Tsarwe alleged that in July last year, Lasch officials formed a joint venture with the Zanu-PF Youth League for the supply of agricultural inputs. Farmers paid $36 as joining fee, $29,60 per hectare as insurance fee and $5 Arex fee which was payable direct to Arex offices.

It was alleged that Lasch failed to provide some farmers with inputs and out of $1 010 996,10 deposited into their bank account only $587,44 reflected as of December 16.