Zimbabwe: Former Minister Mzembi Acquitted of Abuse of Office Charges

Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has been acquitted on charges of abusing his office after the High Court ruled that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Mzembi had been accused of unlawfully donating four public-viewing television sets to churches, including UFIC, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries and ZCC, allegedly showing favouritism and prejudice to the government.

Delivering judgment, High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero said the State only managed to prove that Mzembi was a public officer, but failed to establish the other essential elements of the offence.