THE case in which controversial businessman Clark Makoni, who allegedly filmed himself in a police cell in Goromonzi district, has opened a can of worms after it emerged that he was involved in a bitter mine wrangle with his former partners.
Makoni’s video, which has since gone viral, shows him accusing the police of detaining him although he was the complainant in the matter.
He appeared in the cells with his cellphones, satchel and clad in a designer suit saying he had escaped an attempted robbery from four men who were using a top police officer’s vehicle.
The police recently refuted Makoni’s claims, saying he was arrested and charged with attempted murder after he shot at businessman Courage Moyo’s vehicle and deflated one of its tyres.
Makoni is also facing cyber bullying and disorderly conduct charges.
Police said they would interrogate their colleagues at Juru Police Station who detained Makoni with all his belongings including cellphones.
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“The public is informed that the allegations by Clark Clever Makoni are false. The correct position is that Clark Clever Makoni has a mining dispute with Courage Moyo, Luxson Kandemiri, Paul Rwodzi and Anesu Muzira.
“Initially, the parties were operating a joint venture mine in the Arcturus area, Goromonzi, until their relationship turned sour,” national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement.
The mine in question is owned by renowned businessman Ray Kaukonde through Ray and Brian Enterprises, but is currently being operated by Moyo and his colleagues through their company Superay Investments as a tribute.
It is reported that Makoni was refusing to leave the mine despite several court orders, resulting in a heated wrangle with his former partners.
Makoni is also accused of bribing police officers in a bid to block his eviction from the mine.
According to a report shown to NewsDay, police ordered parties in the dispute to travel to Juru Police Station for “a dialogue”, but as they drove to the police station, Makoni allegedly pulled his gun and shot at Moyo’s Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle.
He also allegedly pointed the gun at Moyo in the full glare of the public and police officers at a roadblock near Juru.
The firearm has since been confiscated by law enforcement agents.
According to a letter written by Mashonaland East provincial mining director Tendai Kashiri dated April 9 this year, government ordered police to evict Makoni from the mine, describing him as an illegal miner.
The letter was addressed to Police Officer Commanding Mashonand East province.
According to a High Court provisional order granted on May 3 this year, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda barred Makoni from conducting mining operations at the site and ordered the police to evict him.
“The second and third respondents be and are hereby ordered to assist the applicant to enforce the fourth respondent’s instructing letter, dated April 9, 2024, to stop illegal mining operations at the claims tributed to the applicant, being Ayerum blocks, registration numbers 44956 and 44954,” Justice Kwenda ruled.
Kaukonde’s company has also written to police complaining over their alleged complacency in evicting Makoni.
Makoni is out on bail on the four charges.