Mliswa became an overnight millionaire by brutal Land grabbing
2010 07 08
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THURSDAY, 08 JULY 2010 08:47
EDITOR
Political reporter
A former fitness trainer Temba Mliswa who lived in England for many years took advantage of President Mugabe’s chaotic Land Reform to become an overnight millionaire when he ruthlessly dispossessed a commercial white farmer of cattle and equipment worth over US$ 24 million, The Zim Diaspora can reveal.
Mliswa has since been arrested by Zimbabwean police. A catalogue of charges against him have since emerged which, ironically, had been covered-up by the state for many years as for all along, Mliswa had been singing the same tune with President Mugabe’s condemned land grabbing policy up until last week.
Controversial: Temba Mliswa
He is now in Mugabe’s harmful police cells.
He has been committing serious crimes against white farmers and the state has been protecting him up until last week when he went a mile further by going against Mr Mugabe’s interests in the controversial Land programme.
Mliswa’s finally straw was when he falsely promised a farmer whose farm had been grabbed by Mugabe’s men that he had power to protect the farmer’s equipment from being seized but on a fee – all hell then broke loose. A can of worms was opened for Mliswa.
We can reveal that Mliswa who has been committing crimes against white farmers in Zimbabwe hiding under his pro-Mugabe stance has:
grabbed 3 000 cattle worth US$ 900 000 and farm equipment including bulldozers, tractors, lorries, graders and pick-up trucks all valued at US$ 20 million. Van Rensburg later realised that he had been duped after Mliswa claimed ownership of the property.
took away 108 cattle belonging to a white farmer grabbed three heavy vehicles, a cold room, three tractors, a drowsy hammer, irrigation equipment, generators and other items all valued at US$ 3 644 058.
is accused of lying to Graham George Davis van Rensburg of Kwekwe whose farm had already been grabbed by Mugabe’s thugs that he could protect his equipment from being seized by the farm grabbers.
Mliswa who already is facing other similar charges together with the son of Presidential Minister Didymus Mutasa were released from remand prison.
He appeared in court again yesterday on two new charges of allegedly swindling white former commercial farmers of cattle and equipment worth over US$ 24 million.
The new charges arose as police are reportedly preparing dockets for at least 40 new cases against Mliswa.
Police yesterday confirmed that Mliswa (38) is facing several criminal charges.
Yesterday, he was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei, who remanded him in custody to today for bail ruling.
The new charges come barely three days after Mliswa, Martin Mutasa (47), the son of Minister Didymus Mutasa, and George Marere (36) were released from remand prison.
The trio was arrested last week for allegedly seizing shares worth US$ 1 million in a local company and spent the weekend in custody.
In the latest case, prosecutor Mrs Phyllis Zvenyika, in opposing bail, led evidence from Superintendent Frank Muchengwa.
Supt Muchengwa said investigations were in their infancy and Mliswa should thus not be freed because he could interfere with witnesses.
He said police were preparing dockets for at least 40 new cases against him
Mliswa’s lawyer, Mr Charles Chinyama, queried why the alleged new cases took long to be reported.
Supt Muchengwa responded that Mliswa had intimidated police and because he was “untouchable”.
Mr Chinyama, however, submitted that his client was suitable for bail as he had turned himself to the police.
On the first count, Mliswa allegedly misrepresented to Petros Jacobus van der Merwe, formerly of Orlib Park Lot 1 in Karoi, that he could help him sell his agri-equipment without State interference for a 10 percent commission.
Mliswa allegedly sold the property but did not surrender any money to Van der Merwe.
On the second count, Mliswa is accused of lying to Graham George Davis van Rensburg of Kwekwe – whose farm had been acquired for resettlement – that he could protect his equipment from being seized by the new owner.
He allegedly induced the farmer to lie that he had an agreement with Mliswa for sale of the equipment and hence it could not be sold.