HARARE – Temba Mliswa, a former Norton lawmaker, believes the US$7.7 million presidential goat scandal involving Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu is driven by politics rather than law.

The outspoken politician has claimed that the decision to broadcast the case live confirmed his suspicions that a ‘third hand’ is controlling the story. Mliswa argued that Chimombe should have been granted bail long ago as he is not directly involved in the case.

“I did not want to comment on the Chimombe and Mpofu case, but the latest revelations that the case will be broadcast live have confirmed my suspicions that there is a third hand behind it.

“The matter is more political than legal as all vestiges of the latter have disappeared,” Mliswa wrote on his X-handle on Sunday.

“The theater is the effort of a hidden hand making a statement of power. The basic facts of the case itself would allow Chimombe to be released on bail long ago as he has nothing to do with the case. It’s not his company. He was never involved in the goat deal negotiations.

“Yet the hidden hand is trying to increase its power and flaunt its extravagant influence in Zanu-PF. We all know who the third hand is, but time is our master. An ex-con can only survive so long, even with all the money to silence and buy support.”

Mliswa’s claim that the “third hand” is an “ex-con” suggests that controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo is behind the arrest of Chimombe and Mpofu.

The detention of Chimombe and Mpofu coincided with the release of incriminating voice notes in which Chivayo discussed a massive $100 million tender from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The roots of their dispute lay in disagreements over payment, which led to the leak.

Although their arrest was not a direct result of the ZEC scandal, they faced charges related to the presidential goat scheme ($7.7 million) and street lighting tenders ($9.2 million).

But Mliswa has drawn parallels with his own experiences under the regime of ZRP Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, where he claims he faced brutal persecution. He warned those who abused power that their actions would eventually catch up with them.

Mliswa has questioned the selective attention paid to this case, citing larger corruption cases such as the Sandura Commission being kept secret.

“Yet even bigger corruption cases, such as the Sandura Commission, have been kept out of the spotlight. It is very sad how an entire system can be corrupted and abused to pander to the whims of someone with money,” said Mliswa.

Chivayo, whose source of wealth is controversial, recently mocked his former employees by calling them “frauds” and “idiots.” The businessman has donated millions worth of vehicles to his church and to musicians of his choice and members of Zanu-PF.

The ex-con, along with his company Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, was acquitted of embezzling $5.6 million for the failed 100MW Gwanda Solar Project.