Former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa was released on US$300 bail yesterday by a Karoi magistrate after spending two nights in police custody on charges related to illegal mining.

Mliswa, 53, faces three charges: prospecting without a mining license, operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at the Rengwe Conservancy, and cyber-bullying.

As part of his bail conditions, the outspoken politician must report to Borrowdale Police Station twice a month, reside at his usual address, and avoid contact with witnesses.

The court directed the State to withdraw the charges of illegal prospecting and operating without an EIA against Mliswa personally.

Instead, the charges are to be pressed against Cubsden Consolidated or its representative.

Mliswa, who chairs the Southern African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (SAPNAC), has publicly accused senior Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officials of orchestrating his arrest.
He claims the Mashonaland West Officer Commanding, Tawonei Nyazema, is trying to replace him with Chinese miners at the conservancy.

The former MP further alleged that a cartel is demanding payments from miners along the Sanyati River, despite Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024, which outlaws riverbed mining.
Mliswa is scheduled to return to court on September 17, 2025, for a possible trial date.