Two Bulawayo councillors (MDC Alliance), were on Tuesday acquitted of charges of assaulting the Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, for lack of evidence.
Councillor Tinashe Kambarami, who is also the deputy mayor, and Ward Four Councillor Silas Chigora pleaded not guilty to joint charges of having assaulted Dube while serving him with a letter of suspension in July this year.
In his ruling, Bulawayo magistrate, Tinashe Tashaya, acquitted the two councillors of assault charges, saying that the complainant’s testimony could not be relied upon as it was not credible and truthful. He said:
It is clear and not disputed that the evidence by the two State witnesses was damaging to the State case as they contradicted the complainant’s version.
Clearly, their testimonies did not corroborate with the evidence of the complainant, which in itself was not credible and reliable.
In light of the above, the State has failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused persons and I hereby retain a verdict of not guilty and accordingly, they are acquitted.