Own Correspondent|A member of the Zimbabwe National Army attached to the Presidential Guard has been acquitted in court on allegations of stealing 119 laptops that belonged to former President Robert Mugabe.

Pepukai Zvakavapano was freed by Harare magistrate Josephine Sande after The State failed to prove how the soldier stole the computers.

“The is no evidence directly linking the accused to the offence of theft despite that he was caught in possession of some of the stolen property,” said the magistrate.

“The court is of the view that the state failed to prove its case and the accused is hereby found not guilty and acquitted on the theft charge,” ruled the magistrate.

Zvakavapano was also cleared on another charge of unlawful entry. He was however, fined $200 for possessing stolen property.

The soldier was acquitted after a full trial which saw Mugabe giving testimony from his private Blue Roof mansion.

The veteran leader testified after Zvakavapano had claimed Mugabe gave him the laptops as a token of appreciation for good service, a claim denied by former strongman.

The theft occurred after Mugabe’s property was moved to Harare’s Polo grounds as his house was being renovated.