British businessman Paul Westwood and his Belgian wife Brenda-Lee Samantha claim they visited the late General Solomon Mujuru to ask him to intervene after then fitness trainer turned businessman Temba Mliswa seized their company.
Although three years ago Mliswa was acquitted on charges of trying to forcibly wrestle Noshio Motors, a million-dollar vehicle accessories company, Westwood claims the Zanu PF businessman, who is now an MP, bribed the presiding magistrate Never Katiyo who suddenly acquired a US$12 000 car.
Brenda-Lee Samantha told Nehanda Radio they were subjected to relentless harassment, extortion attempts and threats made against them by Mliswa and his people from January to July 2011. The Westwood’s, who lived in Gunhill near Mujuru’s home, decided to visit the retired general and seek his intervention.
“Our house was just behind his official business residence of River Ranch. I had known General Mujuru since I was a little girl and he was an exceptionally nice man, very quiet, very shy, a lovely endearing smile and he had a stammer and so he didn’t tend to talk a lot, as most wise man do, they tend to listen, evaluate and then decide.
Brenda-Lee Samantha said she outlined the problems they were having with Mliswa including the threats and how as foreigners, no one was willing to help.
“He (Mujuru) said I will speak to (Didymus) Mutasa. Minister Mutasa must stop protecting his nephew. He is a big boy so he can sort himself out. I will see what I can do, to make sure this stops.”
Unfortunately for them Mujuru died in a suspicious fire at his farmhouse in Beatrice, just outside Harare.
Two weeks ago British MP Lindsay Allan Roy wrote a letter to President Robert Mugabe asking him to intervene in the dispute between Mliswa and Westwood.
The letter to Mugabe by the MP asks the president to “investigate the circumstances of his (Westwood’s) business loss; and subsequently do all you can to find a fair and just solution to recompense him for his loss of, not only his home and business, but the life that he built up for himself and his family.”
“Temba Mliswa improperly used the indigenisation law, for his own personal gain as well as claim he had Permission from you Mr President. He hid behind Didymus Mutasa his uncle to escape proper accountability.
“I ask respectfully that you investigate this matter on behalf of Mr Westwood and his family who were loyal Permanent Residents of Zimbabwe, took a pride in their country but, regrettably, due to circumstances beyond their control were forced to leave,” the letter to Mugabe by Roy read.
Meanwhile Mliswa, who has family in the UK, defended his takeover claiming it was in line with the government’s indigenisation policy. He also denied making any threats to Westwood and instead blamed his arrest on police chief Augustine Chihuri who he claimed was corruptly benefitting from Westwood.
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