Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A MEMBER of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) has escaped prison following his conviction on charges of theft and malicious damage to property.
Nationalists Alliance Party founder and president Devine Mhambi-Hove was convicted after a full trial at the magistrates court on three counts involving theft, malicious damage to property and contempt of court.
Mhambi-Hove served as the deputy chairperson of the international relations and re-engagement committee in Polad.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the lower court found him guilty.
The opposition leader filed an appeal at the High Court following his conviction.
On September 15, 2025, the High Court sitting in Bulawayo upheld his appeal under case number HCB CR3193/25, before Justices Evangelista Kabasa and Bongani Ndhlovu.
“The appeal on each count succeeds. Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing parties… Each count, 1, 2 and 3; the accused is found not guilty and is acquitted,” the judges ruled.
“The judgment of the court a quo on each count is hereby quashed and substituted with the following: The sentence imposed by the court a quo on each count, 1, 2 and 3, is hereby set aside.”
According to court documents, on August 5, 2022, at Basement Bar, Mhambi-Hove unlawfully took property belonging to Trust Muteedzi.
On the count of malicious damage to property, he was accused of intentionally damaging a counter, VIP lounge and stage at the same bar knowing the property belonged to the complainant.
On the contempt of court count, Mhambi-Hove was accused of violating a court order for denying the complainant access to the Duly Motors basement.
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