5 alleged machete gang members acquitted

Five men accused of terrorising residents in Bulawayo's eastern suburbs have been acquitted after the court ruled that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to secure convictions.

Mpho Ncube, Thabani Zondo, Thembalani Sibanda, Ashoton Ncube and Shelton Ngwenya were facing six charges including armed robbery and malicious damage to property. Bulawayo regional magistrate Archie Wochiwunga ruled that the prosecution's case was riddled with inconsistencies.

In his judgment, the magistrate said witnesses presented conflicting versions of events, making it impossible for the court to determine which account was credible. He noted discrepancies in the timing, locations and circumstances of the alleged attacks, leading to reasonable doubt.

The accused had been linked to a series of violent incidents in July involving alleged machete attacks, robberies and home invasions. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the court found the evidence unreliable and acquitted all five, a decision that has left victims and residents questioning the outcome.