HARARE provincial magistrate Lisa Mutendereki yesterday acquitted four local municipal officers facing 18 counts of stealing various items which were confiscated from vendors.

The suspects Langton Kanyama (43), Daniel Shokora (56), Edward Muchenje (41) and Peter Muwunde(41) were being represented by Tinashe Mbala from Nyawo Ruzive Legal Practitioners.

The accused persons were facing 18 counts of theft, with vendors being the complainants.

In her ruling, Mutendereki said that the State witnesses had failed to quantify their property which was allegedly stolen by the municipal police officers.

Circumstances are that on January 30 this year, the complainants were selling stationery at corner Bute and Rezende streets in Harare when the municipal officers arrested them and confiscated their wares.