Suspended Zanu-PF chairman acquitted of stealing cattle
madiro

Cde Madiro

Mutare Bureau
SUSPENDED Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman Mike Madiro and his deputy Dorothy Mabika, were yesterday acquitted of charges of stealing 10 cattle meant for President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations in Mutare in 2012. Mutare provincial magistrate, Mrs Lucie-Anne Mungwari, exonerated the two following an application for discharge by their lawyer, Mr Tinofara Hove of TK Hove and Partners, at the close of the State case.

Mr Hove had argued that the two be exonerated as they did not steal the 10 cattle in question.

However, Mabika was put on her defence to answer a separate stocktheft charge involving six dairy bulls donated to the party as well as another case of obstructing the course of justice, when she appeared before Ms Sekesai Chiundura.

In dismissing the application for Mabika’s discharge at the close of the State case, Ms Chiundura said the State had a strong case against the accused and as such she must give her account.

Mabika is expected back in the dock on 20 June.

Mrs Mungwari said it was clear that the Zanu-PF provincial executive was aware of the existence of the cattle in question.

She noted that the 10 cattle were still at the seller, John Chirimambowa’s farm in Middle Sabi.

Mrs Mungwari said under the circumstances, it was difficult for the witnesses to explain how this amounted to stocktheft if the cattle were at Chirimambowa’s farm.

“It is clear from the above that the State had a neatly made out case with witnesses corroborating each other. The only problem was with the direction the corroboration took, and whether this served any purpose enhancing the stocktheft that the two accused persons are facing.

“It is clear from the facts that the livestock were purchased by members of the provincial executive committee for the purpose of feeding the masses at the 21st February Movement (celebrations). Due to reasons beyond the accused’s control, the beasts could not be transported even though an attempt was made by the seller to do so. Furthermore there was no party farm to which the beasts could have been taken,” noted Mrs Mungwari.

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