Mnangagwa's 'daughter' in $1 million scam

A woman who allegedly claimed to be the daughter of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appeared in court facing extortion charges after she reportedly demanded US$1 million from a Goromonzi farmer in exchange for allowing him to remain on his property.

The complainant, Martin Grobler, alleges that Shorai Kudzai Muchemwa stormed his farm, Lot 1 Buena Vista in Goromonzi, last weekend accompanied by armed men, accusing him of refusing to vacate the land and demanding what he described as a "protection fee" to continue farming.

According to court papers filed under case number HC995/16, Grobler states that he was issued with an offer letter for the farm in November 2013. However, the Ministry of Lands and Land Resettlement allegedly later issued another offer letter for the same property to Muchemwa.

In an affidavit, Grobler argued that despite any pending legal processes, Muchemwa was not entitled to disregard court orders.

"Even though the first respondent (Muchemwa) is not bound by the order appealed against, she is not entitled to disrespect it," he said.

Grobler further alleges that on February 1, 2016, Muchemwa arrived at his farm accompanied by several men who were allegedly drunk and armed with AK47 rifles, ordering him to vacate the property.

"I begged that I needed to at least harvest my tobacco crop, which I am now harvesting and was in the process of curing," Grobler said in his affidavit.

He claims that Muchemwa and a co-accused, Edwin Zimuto - whom he described as the leader of the group - demanded US$1 million if he wished to remain on the farm. When he indicated he could not raise the amount, the figure was allegedly reduced to US$500 000.

Grobler further alleges that after he offered US$15 000 as a compromise, Zimuto pointed a firearm at his head and threatened to kill him, accusing him of being insincere.

The court papers also name McDonald Chibondo and Misheck Chimukasa as part of the group that allegedly descended on the farm armed with rifles.

Grobler states that he reported the matter to Epworth Police Station soon after the incident, but claims officers declined to intervene, allegedly citing the matter as political and sensitive.

He further alleges that the group later returned to the farm and sealed the doors to his tobacco curing barns.

In a subsequent incident on February 7, 2016, Grobler claims Muchemwa again visited his residence accompanied by the same group.

"She told me that I should know by now that she was the daughter of Vice-President Mnangagwa and that no one would stop her in the country," Grobler said in his affidavit.

He alleges that during the confrontation, Zimuto brandished an AK47 rifle while Muchemwa addressed him and issued further threats.

The matter is now before the courts, with Muchemwa facing allegations of extortion. Authorities had not yet issued an official comment at the time of publication.