via Mliswa seeks bail, rejects gun theft rap – NewZimbabwe 02 February 2015
AXED Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa has been charged with gun theft and will learn Tuesday whether the courts will grant his bid for bail.
His lawyers have however rubbished the charges saying the State was crying more than the bereaved since the supposed victim of the theft had not complained.
The Hurungwe West legislator was arrested on Saturday and appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Ignatius Mugova on Monday.
Prosecutor Herald Matura charged Mliswa with theft over some eight rifles said to have been found stashed in a trench at his Spring Farm fowl run.
The firearms included a 303 rifle, Patrone .22 rifle, Kal .22 I.F.B rifle, BSA 7.57mm rifle, K217.62mm rifle, .458 Witworth Express rifle, Vanguard 12 Bore shotgun and a 12 Bore double barrel shotgun.
Matura said Mliswa stole the firearms from Summerhill Farm in Mhangura in 2007. The State claims the guns belong to then farm owner Myles Walter Hall.
The prosecutor opposed bail saying Mliswa could interfere with witnesses since one of them was his worker at the farm.
Police also needed to recover five other firearms at Mliswa’s farm, while time was needed to send the recovered firearms to the Ballistics Unit for testing to establish whether they had not been used to commit a crime.
However, Mliswa’s lawyers Musindo Hungwe and Charles Chinyama, dismissed the State’s claims against their client.
“The case is manifestly weak as the arms in question were recovered,” said Hungwe.
“So, which other firearms is the State talking about when it is clear that the other firearms are registered in the accused’s name?”
The attorney said there was nothing in the State’s papers to show how the crime was committed, while also dismissing the case for not having a complainant.
“The State is crying more than the bereaved because there is nowhere we see Mr Myles Hall reporting to the police,” he said.
With property worth a net value of US$3,5 million, among other valuables, and being a legislator, Mliswa was not a flight risk and should be released on bail under conditions set by the court, the lawyer added.
COMMENTS
You wasting your time Temba, hausikubuda mujeri any time soon. Grace is your prosecutor and Mugabe is the judge saka hauikunde nyaya yacho.
As long as you support Zanu Temba..Chero ukanzi 50 years in jail….It will be ok
Themba what goes around comes around. wati wadini remember the souls u harassed when u were with them. U lead a gangster type of life threatening, maiming and bashing anyone who opposed you. Taste your own medicine.
I am confused.com. So Mliswa had 7+ guns in his locker – stollen or not, surely the man was preparing to wage a war. Otherwise how does he fire all 7+ guns in self defence – assuming that that is his reason for having them in the first place? Interesting. Yet what is even more interesting is why is the charge just that of ‘theft’ when the bagger had guns – licenced or not. Should the charge not be that of terorism? – like Ndabaningi Sithole all those years back? – Zapu farm finds that had Dabengwa and Lookout save years inside?
Besides all that, how did Mliswa manage to register stollen guns? – if endeed he did register them? So even his artoney has no case here.
This is a case where zanu have a file each on the other. They activate such file when they want to. They all knew about the guns but they only make the move now.
Poor stupid Themba. But its good. You also must donate to lice meals. Like giving back to society.
As for Temba
His lead a life of a thug and must rote in jail.
I’m so glad that the president seen through the old boys clubs and has kicked them out.
Temba you brought all this to yourself and this is a sign to grow up and act in a responsible namer.
I thrust that the president will also with all his friends that Temba gave farms the old school rugby boys.
To Temba I say to he’ll with your stuip uncle.
It’s time to move Zimbabwe forward without crocks like you and your thugs.
You never contributed anything positive to Zimbabwe or Zane PF, but only dent the image of the hard fought work done my the elders.
It’s time to reclaim our glory without you in a respectful and dignified namer.