Karoi – Former Norton legislator and outspoken politician Temba Mliswa was on Wednesday granted bail by a Karoi magistrate after spending two nights in police custody on allegations ranging from illegal mining to cyber-bullying.
The 53-year-old former Member of Parliament, who has cultivated a reputation as a vocal critic of both government policies and the ruling ZANU PF, was ordered to pay US$300 bail. His release, however, comes with strict conditions, including reporting twice a month at Borrowdale Police Station, continuing to reside at his registered address, and refraining from interfering with witnesses.
Mliswa faces three separate charges: prospecting without a mining licence, cyber-bullying, and operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at Rengwe Conservancy in Karoi. However, in a significant development, the magistrate ruled that two of the charges—illegal prospecting and operating without an EIA—ought to be directed at his company, Cubsden Consolidated (Pvt) Ltd, or its official representative, rather than Mliswa personally.
Soon after being freed, Mliswa told reporters that his arrest was “nothing but a political witch-hunt.” He alleged that senior officers within the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) were behind the case in an attempt to edge him out of the Rengwe Conservancy.
Specifically, Mliswa pointed fingers at Mashonaland West Officer Commanding, Tawonei Nyazema, whom he accused of working with external business interests to pave the way for Chinese mining companies to take over the conservancy. “This is about protecting national resources from being parcelled out to foreign cartels,” Mliswa charged.
The former legislator, who also serves as chairperson of the Southern African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (SAPNAC), suggested that the charges were designed to tarnish his image as an anti-corruption crusader. “They know I speak out against illegal mining, corruption, and foreign exploitation. What better way to silence me than to cook up charges that paint me as a lawbreaker?” he said.
In his defence, Mliswa further claimed that a well-connected cartel was profiting from illicit mining activities along the Sanyati River, despite the government outlawing riverbed mining through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024.
Temba Mliswa Granted Bail After Two Nights in Custody, Insists Charges Are Politically Motivated
“These cartels are protected. They can mine illegally with impunity, but when I raise concerns about the environment and the need for proper investment, I get arrested,” Mliswa argued. He warned that the unchecked activities of such groups were devastating local ecosystems and displacing communities, while ordinary Zimbabweans continued to suffer from environmental degradation and poverty.
Legal experts say the magistrate’s decision to redirect some of the charges to Cubsden Consolidated could complicate the state’s case. By separating Mliswa from the corporate entity, prosecutors may now be required to show direct personal involvement, rather than simply holding him accountable by virtue of his association with the company.
Mliswa is expected back in court on September 17, 2025, for the setting of a possible trial date. His legal team has indicated that they will challenge the cyber-bullying charge, arguing that it is vague and politically weaponised.
For many Zimbabweans, Mliswa’s arrest and subsequent release on bail is the latest episode in a long history of clashes between the outspoken politician and state authorities. Since leaving Parliament after the 2023 elections, he has continued to position himself as an independent political voice, often sparring with both ZANU PF and opposition figures.
As chair of SAPNAC, Mliswa has regularly used regional and international platforms to call out corruption, state capture, and illicit financial flows across Southern Africa. His critics accuse him of using such platforms to grandstand and maintain political relevance, while his supporters view him as one of the few consistent voices against entrenched corruption.
Analysts suggest that the case may have far-reaching implications for both the politics of resource governance in Zimbabwe and the state’s handling of dissent. The mining sector, particularly gold and chrome extraction, has become a flashpoint for corruption and power struggles. Questions are likely to grow about whether Mliswa’s arrest is part of a genuine legal process or an attempt to silence a prominent critic.
“Given the history of politically motivated prosecutions in Zimbabwe, this case will be closely watched,” said one Harare-based legal analyst. “If the state fails to prove the charges, it will reinforce perceptions that law enforcement is being weaponised against government critics.”
For now, Mliswa remains free on bail, vowing to fight the charges and expose what he calls a “dirty campaign” against him. Whether his case proceeds smoothly through the courts or becomes another drawn-out political saga will be determined in the coming months, with September 17 marking the next critical date.
Source- Bulawayo24
