Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Online Reporter
THE High Court in Bulawayo has acquitted local businessman Mr Devine Mhambi-Hove of three charges of malicious damage to property, contempt of court and theft.
In 2022, Mhambi-Hove was found guilty by the Bulawayo magistrates court on three charges after he was accused by his former business partner Mr Trust Muteedzi of damaging property at Basement Bar, located at Duly’s Building which is situated at corner 11th Avenue and Jason Moyo Street, where he also runs a car wash business.
He was also accused of theft from the bar. The court also slapped with an additional contempt of court charge.
The lower courts sentenced the businessman and politician to 12 months in prison, a US$300 fine and ordered him to perform community service for all the three charges.
Mr Mhambi-Hove appealed both the conviction and sentences at the High Court.
In a judgement delivered on 15 September 2025 by High Court judges Justice Bongani Ndlovu and Justice Evangelista Kabasa, under case number HCBCR3193/25, said Mr Mhambi-Hove’s appeal had been successful.
“Whereupon, after reading documents filed of record and hearing parties, it is ordered that: 1. the appeal on each count succeeds. 2. The Judgment of the Court a quo on each count is hereby quashed and substituted with the following;
“Each Count 1,2, and 3; The accused is found Not Guilty and is acquitted. 3. The sentence imposed by the Court a quo on each Count, 1, 2 and 3, is hereby set aside,” reads the judgement.
