Mliswa Released From Bail As Cyber-Bullying Case Collapses

The State has released former ZANU-PF Mashonaland West Provincial Chairman Temba Mliswa from his bail conditions. It will now proceed by way of summons in his cyber-bullying case against Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner Tawonei Nyazema.

Mliswa was arrested in June and spent two nights in police custody. He faced accusations of cyber-bullying, illegal mining, and prospecting without a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The latter two charges were dropped after the court directed that the state withdraw charges against him personally. These charges had been filed against his company, Cubsden Consolidated.

Under his bail conditions, Mliswa was required to report to Borrowdale Police Station twice a month, reside at his usual address, and avoid contact with witnesses. He is no longer required to adhere to these conditions.

Mliswa, who chairs the Southern African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (SAPNAC), is accused of attacking Officer Commanding Mashonaland West, Nyazema, in a series of posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

In the posts, Mliswa accused Nyazema of colluding with a criminal cartel involved with illegal miners along the Sanyati River, in breach of Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024, which prohibits riverbed mining.

Nyazema is alleged to be one of the ringleaders of the cartel, which demanded payments from illegal miners.

Mliswa, whose company, Cubsden Consolidated, is conducting a government-approved rehabilitation project along the Sanyati River, claims his arrest was retaliation for exposing the cartel.

He alleges that Nyazema protected illegal mining by Chinese operators in Mashonaland West in collusion with Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo.

According to Mliswa, Chombo and Nyazema accepted US$150,000 in bribes to shield the illegal miners.

A formal complaint was also lodged with Brigadier General Ndlovu, Chairman of the Mashonaland West Joint Operations Command (JOC), alleging a “personal vendetta” by Nyazema.

The complaint further claims that Nyazema demanded US$70,000 from Mliswa’s consultant, Kandira, to allow Cubsden to continue their rehabilitation work. Kandira reportedly refused the demand due to its illegality.

The State, however, has made little progress in the case, leading to the decision to proceed by summons rather than continue with the bail conditions.

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