THE police have been ordered to return the front-end loader, a tipper truck and other equipment seized from Mr Newman Chiadzwa.

High Court Judge Justice Happias Zhou ordered the police to hand over the equipment, which was taken from Mr Chiadzwa's homestead in Marange three years ago.

In passing the judgement, Justice Zhou said Mr Chiadzwa was acquitted and there was no need for the police to keep holding onto the equipment.

"The seizure of the property after his arrest has nothing to do with the criminal case.

"The police must give back the equipment and there is no basis for them to hold on to them," Justice Zhou said.

In an affidavit filed by his lawyer Mr Puwai Chiutsi, Mr Chiadzwa stated that on July 27, 2009, police officers in the company of soldiers went to his homestead before demanding to enter into the premises.

They searched the premises and seized an unregistered Massey Ferguson front-end loader, a Toyota tipper truck, a toolbox with an assortment of tools, a 5 000 litre water tank and a jig machine.

Mr Chiadzwa indicated that the police officers did not give an explanation for the seizure of the property.

In the application, Mr Chiadzwa argued that the seized equipment could not be used to buy diamonds as alleged.

Mr Chiadzwa argued that the equipment was depreciating in value due to exposure to direct sun and lack of maintenance.