Presidential Affairs Minister and Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa has distanced himself from claims by Mashonaland West provincial chairperson, Temba Mliswa, that he tried to facilitate an out-of-court settlement in a US$165 million dispute with businessman, Mr Conrad Billy Rautenbach.
Mliswa also claimed Mutasa used his influence as a party heavyweight in the Manicaland province to allow Mr Rautenbach to set up the Chisumbanje ethanol plant.
Mutasa on Tuesday said, “I don’t want to be interviewed about those issues. They have nothing to do with me. Mliswa has got his own life and I have my own life. Don’t mix. I don’t want to talk about that again.”
Arda chairperson, Basil Nyabadza — who Mliswa said had a house bought for him by Mr Rautenbach — also reiterated he knew nothing of the allegations and would privately pursue action against the Hurungwe West legislator.
Nyabadza said, “I have already taken a position after I took some advice. I will handle it from a personal point of view. I am not saying I have abandoned the (police) case. It’s a personal issue that I will handle as such.”
