Political Reporter
Independent Norton legislator, Themba Mliswa was described as a dunderhead who failed his ordinary level examination in 1987.
Mliswa’s former schoolmate, Gilbert Mandizvidza, described him as an ‘empty head’ that had mastered the art of extortion and blackmailing.
“I learnt with Mliswa at Lord Malvern in 1987. I was in form 4A and he was in Form 4E because he was academically challenged. When we wrote our ordinary level examinations, Mliswa only passed English with grade B and failed all the other subjects. In fact, after writing seven subjects, he got six U’s and passed English only,” said Mandizvidza.
According to Mandizvidza, Mliswa was not serious with his school work as he spent much of his time chasing after girls.
“At school, Mliswa was a womaniser. He always chased after girls. I was not surprised to hear that he fathered 19 children as it was bound to happen,” added the source.
Mandizvidza said that Mliswa was not a smart businessman as he claimed because most of his assets were proceeds of extortion and blackmail.
Mandizvidza added that during his days as ZANU PF Mashonaland West chairperson, Mliswa conned many people including Billy Rautenbach and Paul Westwood.
“During his days as Mashonaland West ZANU PF chairperson, Mliswa used to con a lot of people threatening them that he was a close ally of the late former President, Robert Mugabe. People like Rautenbach and Westwood were some of Mliswa’s victims. His expulsion from ZANU PF in 2014 was welcomed by many people as he was using the Party’s name for extortion and bullying,” said Mandizvidza.
Mandizvidza added that in 2019, Mliswa, together with controversial Kwekwe businessman, Shepherd Tundiya, solicited for a US$400 000 bribes from a Bulawayo businessman, James Goddard ostensibly on behalf of Parliament. It later emerged that Mliswa wanted to extort Goddard using Parliament as a cover for his shoddy deals.
Meanwhile, the people of Norton are reportedly fed up with Mliswa whom they accuse of failing to initiate tangible development activities during his time as the constituency’s legislator.
