Rudo Saungweme

Outspoken Norton Member of Parliament, Themba Mliswa has stepped down as the Mines Portfolio Committee Chairperson pending allegations of demanding a US $400 000 bribe from Hwange Colliery Company.

Mr Mliswa is alleged to have demanded US $400 000 from James Ross Goddard of JRG Contracting (Pvt) as “facilitation fee” to enable the latter`s company secure a mining contract at Hwange. Mr Goddard refused indicating that the demand is a serious challenge to his Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa`s anti-corruption efforts.

Honourable Mliswa has been one of the most vocal legislators in regards to eradication of corruption. He summoned a number of ministers to appear before his committee whom he quizzed on allegations of corruption levelled against them.

Mliswa recently made sensational allegations against Vice President Kembo Mohadi on his Twitter handle. He threatened to expose VP Mohadi to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He tweeted, “It is time the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner General was honest with President Mnangagwa about the criminals surrounding him and at this level I will copy my correspondence about Mohadi to the ICC.”

Mr Mliswa also summoned former Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Obert Mpofu to answer questions about the alleged missing of US$15 billion revenue from the gem-rich Chiadzwa diamond fields. Dr Mpofu refused to answer any questions on the matter as long as the committee Chairperson was Mr Mliswa.

Mliswa has been in and out of jail for over 70 times during former President Robert Mugabe`s rule.