Harare — Harare lawyer Mr Innocent Chagonda, who was being accused of causing disaffection among police officers by allegedly insulting a senior officer, yesterday had the charges withdrawn after plea following the death of a key State witness.

Harare area public prosecutor Mr Jonathan Murombedzi dropped the charges because Superinte-ndent Luckson Livingstone Kunyongana, who was the complainant, had died and the State could not proceed with the trial.

Asked to respond to the State's submissions, Advocate Eric Matinenga, who was representing Mr Chagonda, expressed his condolences over the death of Supt Kunyongana.

Magistrate Miss Catherine Chimanda then pronounced a verdict of not guilty on the lawyer.

Charges against Mr Chagonda stemmed from early April when he was representing a British pilot who had been acquitted of overstaying in Zimbabwe while conducting MDC-T business.

It is alleged that the court had cleared the pilot of breaching the Immigration Act, but he had not been given back his helicopter.

The State alleged that Mr Chagonda insulted Supt Kunyongana while negotiating for the release of the aircraft.

According to the State papers, Mr Chagonda was quoted as saying to the police officer: "Gore rino muchatengesa mapanties kuti vawane mari yekuripa ndege iyoyi (This year you are going to sell panties to pay for this aircraft).

"You and Madzingo (a fellow officer) remain with the plane."

As a result of the alleged utterances, the lawyer was arrested and charged.