Chronicle Editor
Prosper Dembedza, Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe senior national women’s football team coach Shadreck Mlauzi, who was facing allegations of indecently assaulting a female member of the technical team in South Africa, was yesterday acquitted of the charges.
In her ruling, magistrate Ms Ethel Chichera said the complainant was not a credible witness as she made inconsistent statements during and before trial.
Ms Chichera said the complainant also confirmed that she had a virtual relationship with Mlauzi. The second witness who testified denied any knowledge of the alleged assault.
“The inconsistencies in the complainant’s statements discredits her case. The State has failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused person,” she ruled.
Ms Chichera said there was no element of truth in the complainant’s testimony.
She said evidence in such cases was supposed to be treated with caution because it would be the word of the complainant versus that of the accused person.
“The complainant first said that the accused tried to grab her thighs but she stepped back and then changed goal posts saying he touched her buttocks,” said Ms Chichera.
She said there was a high possibility that the complainant had fabricated the case.
In his defence, Mlauzi told the court that he never violated the complainant’s rights in any way.
“I have been in women’s football for the past 23 years and I have never violated anyone’s rights,” he said.
Mlauzi further submitted that he was born in a family of nine and more of his siblings were women but he never violated their rights.
“I had a virtual relationship with the complainant. We used to chat freely. She used to video call me and ask for favours from me. I’m disappointed that she decided to press such charges against me,” he said.
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