Mliswa summoned to court

The charges arose after Mliswa (40) allegedly stole 56 cattle from Rydings School and ignored a High Court order to return the beasts.
The businessman was not formally charged when he appeared before regional magistrate Ms Esthere Chivasa who remanded him out of custody to Wednesday next week on US$50 bail.

Prosecutor Mr Obi Mabahwana alleges that sometime in 2007 Rydings Farm in Karoi, was allocated to Mr Gerald Mlotshwa under the land redistribution programme.
Mr Mlotshwa was the chairman of the Board of Governors at the school.
In order to protect the school that is on the farm, the board of trustees made an application at the High Court to spare the school from activities as the take over would interrupt school affairs.

A provisional order was granted on October 5, 2007 and Mliswa was among the respondents who were not to interfere with the administration, assets and programmes of the school.
The order was granted by Justice Susan Mavhangira in High Court case HC 4837/07.
In January 2008, Mliswa allegedly sent his workers to drive 56 cattle, which were part of the school property. On the other charge the complainant is Rydings School. In March 2007 Rydings School had financial problems.

The then chairman of the board of governors Mr Mlotshwa offered to bail out the school by buying some of its cattle. Mr Mlotshwa was chairman of Saltlakes, Mliswa’s company.
He discussed with the school’s headmaster and told him he had enough money to pay for the school’s obligations in exchange for the cattle.

The headmaster agreed to the arrangement. On May 16, 2007, Mr Mlotshwa wrote a letter to the school authorities to allow Mliswa to drive cattle from the school to his Spring Farm.
The board of directors, parents and stakeholders later objected to the sale of the cattle, arguing that the cattle were undervalued and that the school was being prejudiced by the transaction.

It is alleged that in June 2007, the school was to rescind the cattle sale and refund Mlotshwa.
The State says Mr Mlotshwa was refunded Z$390 million, which included an interest of Z$272,1 million, changed from the initial payment of Z$117,9 million.

It is alleged Mr Mlotshwa advised Mliswa to stop taking the cattle and comply with the High Court order.
The State says that by collecting the cattle Mliswa disregarded the High Court order.
The cattle are valued at US$17 100.