The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
ZANU-PF Mashonaland West chairman Mr Temba Mliswa is now demanding US$15 million in defamation reparations from business tycoon Mr Conrad “Billy” Rautenbach for allegedly calling him an extortionist.In the potentially explosive case now unfolding after Mr Mliswa claimed Mr Rautenbach owes him US$165 million for securing critical stakes in three major business ventures, the vocal politician gave the businessman up to last Thursday to respond.
Mr Mliswa, through his lawyer, Mr Jonathan Samkange of Venturas and Samkange, said he would take the matter to court after they did not hear from Mr Rautenbach.
Mr Rautenbach could not be reached for comment yesterday.
“Our client’s claim for damages is in the sum of US$15 million for defamation of character,” said Mr Samkange in a letter to the multi-millionaire.
“Unless we hear from you as to how you intend to settle our client’s claims by no later than noon 10th of April 2014, summons will be issued against you without any further warning.”
Mr Samkange said his client was entitled to the damages after his reputation was tainted by an article in The Herald, which quoted Mr Rautenbach calling him an extortionist.
The dramatic fallout between Mr Rautenbach and Cde Mliswa emerged after the Hurungwe West legislator claimed the businessman owed him US$165 million for the role he played in securing the former’s business interests in Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant, Unki Platinum Mines and Hwange Colliery Company.
He claimed to have facilitated meetings with high-ranking officials who include Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa; Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, who was then the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, as well as Deputy Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Tendai Savanhu, who was the chairman of Hwange Colliery. He also claimed Arda chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza facilitated the Chisumbanje deal in exchange for an upmarket house in Mutare.
Minister Mutasa and Mr Nyabadza have since distanced themselves from the matter.
Mr Mliswa demanded US$100 million as his 10 percent shareholding in an Unki Mine concession, which, he says, Mr Rautenbach improperly sold for US$1 billion to British investors.
Mr Mliswa also alleges that Green Fuel recently failed to supply ethanol to the market because Mr Rautenbach had exported four million litres of the product to settle unrelated obligations outside Zimbabwe.
