By Correspondent
The state has released former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa from his bail conditions and will now proceed by way of summons in his cyber-bullying case against ZRP Commissioner Tawonei Nyazema.
Mliswa was arrested in June and spent two nights in police custody.
He was accused of cyber-bullying, illegal mining and prospecting without a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The two latter charges were dropped after the Court directed that the state should withdraw charges against him personally.
The charges were filed against his company Cubsden Consolidated.
As part of his bail conditions he was to report to Borrowdale Police Station twice a month, reside at his usual address and avoid contact with witnesses.
However, he will now no longer adhere to these requirements.
Cyber-Bullying Case
For cyber-bullying, Mliswa, who chairs the Southern African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (SAPNAC) is accused of attacking Mashonaland West Officer Commanding Nyazema.
He allegedly did this in a series of posts on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
In the posts Mliswa accused Nyazema of working with a criminal cartel conniving with illegal miners.
Nyazema is alleged to be one of the ringleaders of the cartel which has been demanding payments from illegal miners along Sanyati River.
This is against Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024 which prohibited riverbed mining.
Victimisation Claims
Mliswa, whose company, Cubsden Consolidated, is undertaking a government approved rehabilitation project along Sanyati river claimed his arrest was retaliation for exposing the cartel.
He claimed that illegal mining by the Chinese in Mashonaland West was protected by Nyazema acting in connivance with Mash West Minister Marian Chombo.
Chombo and Nyazema allegedly accepted US$150 000 bribes to protect the illegal miners.
A formal complaint was also lodged with Brigadier General Ndlovu, Chairman of the Mashonaland West Joint Operations Command (JOC).
The letter alleges a ‘personal vendetta’ by Comm Nyazema against Mliswa leading to persistent interruptions in their Sanyati rehabilitation project.
It also alleges a demand by Comm Nyazema of US$70,000 from Kandira to allow CubsDen to continue their rehabilitation work.
Kandira, who is a consultant with Cubsden, reportedly refused due to its illegality.
“The crux of these arrests is centred on a personal vendetta that Commissioner Nyazema holds against Sabhuku Mliswa and Mr Kandira.
The state has however failed to make much headway in the case resulting in the latest decision.
