Former Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Mzembi, has been found not guilty by the High Court of charges related to the criminal misuse of office concerning the donation of four public viewing screens.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Benjamin Chikowero stated that the State did not manage to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Mzembi had committed the alleged offence.
The court noted that the responsibility for Government assets lies with the permanent secretary, not the minister.
Justice Chikowero indicated that the prosecution had not succeeded in proving that Mzembi had direct oversight of the assets in question.
Mzembi faced allegations of unlawfully donating the public viewing screens during his time as Tourism Minister.
Nevertheless, the court concluded that the evidence provided by the State was inadequate to achieve a conviction.
