Harare – Former Zimbabwe Foreign Affairs Minister, Walter Mzembi has been acquitted of criminal abuse of office by the High Court.
Mzembi was facing charges of donating public television screens worth US$2 million which were meant for the public to view the 2010 World Cup soccer matches being played in South Africa.
Justice Benjamin Chikowero ruled that Mzembi was not directly involved in the charges he was facing.
The donations of the big television screens were done when Mzembi was Tourism minister.
The screens were donated to churches.
The former Minister was arrested last year in June after he made a surprise return to Zimbabwe from South Africa where he was in self-imposed exile.
He was immediately arrested on his return to face the pending charges.
Mzembi had recently been admitted to bail and ordered to reside at his residence, surrender passport and keep within 30km radius of the court as part of his bail conditions.
Mzembi was a key cabinet minister in the Robert Mugabe government. He is the last serving Foreign Minister under Mugabe.
He was a election agent and supporter of his ally Saviour Kasukuwere who was barred from participating at the 2023 elections.
Mzembi has been critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who got into power after a military coup that removed Mugabe.
The coming in of Mnangagwa rendered Mzembi and the G-40 faction within ZANU PF jobless.