Nkate dumped the prosecution when he declared, contrary to his affidavit, that his allocation of Plot 55720 to Nchindo's company was not influenced by anyone else.
The two main charges against Nchindo, Joe Matome and the company, Tourism Development Consortium relate to the presentation made to former president Festus Mogae and cabinet. The presentations are alleged to have influenced Mogae and cabinet to mistake Nchindo's company for a Debswana initiative and thus grant it allocation of the disputed land. Yesterday Nkate took centre stage when the defence used his statement to argue that the allocation was not related to the presentations. Nkate in his evidence during cross examination argued that when he made the allocation he did so independent of anyone's input. The defence in the Nchindo corruption trial says the state's case is now without merit and has called for their clients to be acquitted and discharged. In support of the defence's application yesterday morning, defence lead advocate Craig Webster said the charges against his clients can no longer be sustained because of lack of evidence.
