Three cheers for Comrade Chihuri

In saying this, we are fully aware that Chihuri and his men might not have had an entirely saintly motive in arresting Mliswa. Since when have the police protected the rights and interests of white farmers? We are also aware that Mliswa is not a convicted fraudster. He is merely a suspect who remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

Be that as it may, the polices charge sheet against Mliswa still provides the clearest example yet of what President Robert Mugabes revolutionary fast track land reform programme aka Third Chimurenga was all about: extortion, fraud, looting and more looting. There was also violence and murder although apparently not in the cases involving Mlsiwa.

The charge sheet against Mliswa reads like a Vikings Christmas wish list. From Jacobs Van De Merwe of Orib Park Farm near Karoi town, the police say Mliswa using a combination of guile and political muscle in 2004 swindled the hapless farmer of 104 cows, four bulls, three heavy vehicles, a cold-room, three tractors, one hammer mill, an assortment of irrigation equipment and generators.

He allegedly deceived the farmer that he would sell the property for him on commission before it was seized by farm invaders. We do not want to suggest Mliswa might or might not have been behind the invaders who were threatening the farmer in order to make him accept the deal on the table. In any event, according to the police, the farmer took up the offer and that was the last time he saw his property which Mliswa sold and raised ZW$19 488 500 and a further US$3 644 058 which he all converted to his personal use.

In another case allegedly committed in 2006, Mliswa in warlord-style promised to help protect the property of farmer Nick Van Ransburg but on condition that the two entered an agreement of sale. They did and in no time Van Ransburg was defrauded of 300 head of cattle worth US$900 000 and farm equipment which included bulldozers, tractors, lorries, graders, pick-up trucks all valued at US$20 000 million. He sold the property and kept the proceeds, the police say. This is called common fraud. Period!

And three cheers for Comrade Chihuri for letting out that one. Not that we needed Mliswas misfortune – one has to be really unlucky to get arrested for stealing from a white farmer in Zimbabwe – to know that for all the propaganda about restoring to blacks what was theirs, the fast track land reform programme was and is just an excuse for the usual suspects to enrich themselves from other peoples sweat. We have always known that.

We thank Chihuri for his unintended but timely reminder to his colleagues that their crimes shall catch up with them or as they say in ChiShona: mhosva hayiwore. Good shall in the end be victorious over evil. All the farm looters, murderers, rapists and torturers shall in the fullness of time – be called upon to answer for their many sins and transgressions. Let no one among them say they were never warned.