Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) presenter, Rutendo Makuti, who was being accused of extorting Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader and founder Tapiwa Freddy, has been acquitted, reported H-Metro.
Makuti was being charged together with his uncle Chief Chikwaka, born Witness Bungu, Mutetepi Maushe and Gibson Jaji who were both police officers when the alleged crime was committed.
She was acquitted after Freddy tendered a withdrawal affidavit before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.
Freddy said the parties had reached an amicable settlement on the matter. In the affidavit, the cleric said:
I withdraw after plea the charges against all the accused persons freely, voluntarily, without any undue influence or duress having been exerted on me, without admission of any wrongdoing on my part and without prejudice to any defence the accused persons may have had on the merits.
Freddy said he had agreed to allow Makuti to keep his Mercedes Benz vehicle which had formed the basis of the extortion allegations. He said:
I withdraw the present complaint with the consent of the State, after plea, and that:
- I do not object to a verdict of ‘not guilty and acquitted’ being entered.
- I will cause the vehicle, forming the basis of the charges, namely a Mercedes Benz, black in colour, to be released into Rutendo Makuti’s custody to deal with the same as she pleases, I undertake to all such things and execute all such documents as are prescribed by law or custom to give effect to the foregoing.
- I undertake that I will maintain peace and civility towards the accused persons and will not speak ill, prejudicially or negatively about the accused persons regarding this matter on social media, mainstream print media or any of the platforms where it’s likely that the same will be published.
Allegations were that Makuti, Bungu, Maushe, and Jaji had connived to extort Freddy of his Mercedes Benz in order to conceal rape allegations against him.
Freddy was tried and acquitted in February 2022 of the rape allegations that had been raised by Makuti.