State witness witdraws case againsts Mliswa
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com
30 July, 2010 03:52:00 Alexander Chigumira
A State witness in fresh charges of assault brought against embattled
businessman Temba Mliswa said he withdrew his case against him and was
surprised to have been summoned to court said he withdrew his case against
him and was surprised to have been summoned to court.
This came out at the Karoi Magistrates’ Courts where Mliswa appeared to
answer to eight counts of assault and one of pointing a firearm at someone.
Mliswa was yesterday expected to appear before a Harare magistrate for his
bail ruling in a case in which, he is facing fraud charges involving US$3,5
million that was allegedly extended to him in a loan facility by the Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe.
However, the ruling was deferred because he had to appear before Karoi
magistrate Mr Elisha Singano for what should be a fast-track trial.
Mr Singano remanded him in custody to today for continuation of trial and is
locked up at Karoi Police Station.
Prosecutor Mr Simon Tapiwa alleges that sometime in March 2007, Mliswa
assaulted his farm workers over missing property.
He is also alleged to have pointed a firearm at a witness who threatened to
report the matter.
State witness Tawanda Kamuna, a former security guard at Mliswa’s farm, said
the businessman assaulted him and his colleagues on the buttocks and he
sustained serious injuries requiring an operation.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Mr Charles Chinyama, Kamuna
conceded that he had withdrawn the matter after coming to an agreement with
Mliswa.
“I later agreed with the accused that he was going to pay for my hospital
bills and I withdrew the charges,” he said.
Asked how the matter came to court when he had withdrawn it, he said: “I was
approached by two policemen whom I don’t know from here, but they came with
summons for me to come to court.”
He said he had made his report at Karoi Police Station and he had withdrawn
the matter at the same station after deposing an affidavit. He identified
two detectives based in Harare in the gallery after he was asked if he still
knew the policemen who served him with summons.
Mliswa is also facing charges of extortion at the same court after he
allegedly approached the owner of Magororo Mine claiming that he was an
aspiring legislator for that area. He allegedly demanded US$3 000 and use of
a truck to “protect” the mine.