News / National
White farmer and miner acquitted on charges of insulting President Mugabe
21 Nov 2011 at 07:03hrs | Views
Bulawayo magistrate Victor Mpofu acquitted a 76-year-old white commercial farmer and miner, Mike Van Royen who was arrested in July this year on charges of insulting President Mugabe.
Van Royen who runs Cynthia Mine and Asher Estates in Matobo district in Matabeleland South province was arrested after a group of Zanu PF youths attempted to grab his properties.
Lennon and Rodney are claiming to be rightful owners of Asher Estates saying that the properties were left in their hands by their late parents.
Van Royen was charged under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
After hearing both submissions from Van Royen's lawyer Nathan Tawanda Mashayamombe and state witnesses Lennon and Rodney, magistrate Mpofu acquitted Van Royen.
Van Royen has been running the mine and the farm for the past 36 years.
Allegations against Van Royen are that sometime in July he was phoned by Bulawayo Zanu PF secretary for security Joe Tshuma over the farm and mining business and he told him "to go and hang together with Mugabe."
Van Royen who runs Cynthia Mine and Asher Estates in Matobo district in Matabeleland South province was arrested after a group of Zanu PF youths attempted to grab his properties.
Lennon and Rodney are claiming to be rightful owners of Asher Estates saying that the properties were left in their hands by their late parents.
After hearing both submissions from Van Royen's lawyer Nathan Tawanda Mashayamombe and state witnesses Lennon and Rodney, magistrate Mpofu acquitted Van Royen.
Van Royen has been running the mine and the farm for the past 36 years.
Allegations against Van Royen are that sometime in July he was phoned by Bulawayo Zanu PF secretary for security Joe Tshuma over the farm and mining business and he told him "to go and hang together with Mugabe."
Source - Daily News
