HARARE - The on-going trial of businessman-cum-politician Temba Mliswa entered its fifth day yesterday with the third State witness accusing Zanu PF legislator Sarah Mahoka of lying under oath.

Under cross-examination from Mliswa’s defence counsel led by Musindo Hungwe of Kadzere, Hungwe and Mandevere law firm, State witness Kudakwashe Muzunga, who was the Hurungwe East lawmaker’s driver said the legislator had lied that Mliswa’s 10 co-accused had said they had been instructed by him to kill her.

He told the court that instead, Mliswa’s co-accused had only told Mahoka and her entourage that they would not allow them to penetrate the constituency that easily and shouted vulgar words at them.

Muzunga said contrary to Mahoka’s claims that she had been assaulted by only one person, she had in fact been beaten up by many people.

“Mahoka was attacked by many people and I saw it. There were many hands beating her up through the car window,” he said.

Appearing before presiding Chinhoyi magistrate Sam Chitumwa last week, Mahoka had said in both her statement to the police and evidence-in-chief in court that the group that allegedly assaulted her on February 22 had shouted that they had been sent by Mliswa to kill her.

Muzunga becomes the second State witness to exonerate Mliswa after another witness last weekend told the court that Mliswa did not commit the alleged crime as he was nowhere near Zimonja where the crime was allegedly committed.

Mliswa, an aspiring Zanu PF legislator, stands accused of having had a hand in last month’s thrashing of the legislator who now walks with a limp.

The case continues in court today. - Mugove Tafirenyika