Giving oral evidence before the Temba Mliswa-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mining former President Robert Mugabe’s confidante and ex-pilot, Robert Mhlanga, claimed the former Zanu-PF leader conned Grandwell Holdings chairperson David Kassel of his multi-million-dollar investment in Chiadzwa.
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Mhlanga who used to chair Mbada Diamonds Company, appeared before the committee together with Kassel and narrated how their companies were removed violently from Chiadzwa diamond fields by the police. Said Mhlanga:
When we signed the contract we were told that Grandwell was to mine in perpetuity and that Marange Resources was to pay for everything and ensure that the licences were made available, but that did not come to pass. Mugabe gave us a guarantee that no one would touch our investment, but Kassel was conned by ZMDC and by the Head of State. Then in February 2016, without our knowledge police arrived at the mine, abused people, acted like cowboys, opened our diamond vaults, broke fences and put our people in a room as if we were criminals. It was an unruly process. They broke our safes and took whatever diamonds there were and our containers.
More: NewsDay