Mliswa trial: More witnesses disown police reports
http://www.thezimbabwemail.com
31 July, 2010 01:35:00 By
The trial of businessman Temba Mliswa continued yesterday with four more
witnesses disowning reports made to police and medical examinations
attributed to them in their testimonies.
Two witnesses who testified before Karoi magistrate Mr Elisha Singano on
Thursday confirmed making reports of assault at Karoi Police Station.
However, all the five witnesses yesterday disowned the charges of assault
against Mliswa.
In their testimonies in court, which were identical, the witnesses confirmed
being involved in an altercation with Mliswa, but denied ever making reports
to the police and undergoing medical examination.
Prosecutor Mr Simon Tapiwa had presented the reports in court to bolster the
assault charge.
They claimed the reports were made by politicians, which they declined to
name in court.
“Yes I had an altercation with him (Mliswa) but the matter was resolved
amicably. I never reported the matter to the police. I did not go for a
medical examination and so I don’t know anything about the medical report
being presented here,” said one of the witnesses.
The State is likely to call doctors to confirm the medical reports.
So far, seven witnesses have testified and two more are expected to give
evidence when the trial continues on August 16.
Mr Tapiwa alleges that sometime in March 2007 Mliswa beat up his farm
workers over missing property.
He allegedly pointed a gun at a witness who threatened to report the matter.
Tawanda Kamuna, a former security guard at Mliswa’s farm, told the court
that the businessman beat him and his colleagues on the buttocks and he
sustained serious injuries requiring an operation.
However, the witnesses disowned the reports during cross-examination by
defence counsel Mr Charles Chinyama.
They said they had come 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.
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 the use of a truck to “protect” the mine.
Mliswa is facing eight counts of assault and one of pointing a firearm at
someone at the Karoi Magistrates’ Courts.