Zimlive
Suspended Zimbabwe national women’s team coach Shadreck Mlauzi has been acquitted of assault and indecent assault charges brought against him by a fellow member of the Mighty Warriors technical team.
In reaching her ruling, Harare magistrate Ethel Chichera said the complainant’s evidence was controversial and conflicting, adding that the allegations may have been concocted to bring the football mentor down.
The magistrate also said WhatsApp chats exchanged by both Mlauzi and the complainant proved that the pair had been flirting even after the alleged violations and as such, the state’s case could not sustain allegations.
“The WhatsApp messages show that they were flirting after the alleged offence. That conduct was inconsistent with someone who was unhappy with how she was treated.
“It is the duty of the state to prove beyond reasonable doubt. In my view the state failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The complainant’s statement had inconsistencies.”
The magistrate pointed out that the complainant “once said that the accused tried to grab her thighs, but she stepped back and then changed goalposts saying he touched her buttocks”.
She added, “If the act being alleged is changed, it becomes questionable. The complainant has shown herself to be not a credible witness.”
Mlauzi was facing charges of assault and indecent assault.
Prosecutors alleged that he tried to kiss the complainant, while they were at a training camp for the COSAFA Women Soccer Tournament in September last year.
It was also alleged that he grabbed her buttocks saying “chimbondipawo zvinhu izvi ndimbozvinzwa” (let me have a taste of those things).
Mlauzi had denied the charges, telling the court that he and his accuser were in an online relationship for months prior to their first meeting in September.
The coach had also argued that he believed that the allegations against him were a plot to tarnish his reputation.
He said the complainant was being used by his enemies.
