Man arrested for trying to extort developer

A GWERU man has been arrested after he tried to abuse the anti-corruption drive by the new Government administration to extort money from a local private land developer who bought part of the land which the suspect used to occupy as a squatter.

Joseph Bako (54) of Mkoba Gweru wrote a letter to the Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Cde Owen Ncube, and copied to all provincial heads including the officer commanding Midlands province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Abigail Moyo, demanding compensation from a private developer, River Valley Properties for allegedly taking away “his” farm.

During police investigations, it turned out that Bako was a mere squatter on the private property when it was sold to the land developer by the legal owner and he wanted to try and abuse the new provincial leadership to extort money from the private developer.

Bako who even implicated the former Minister of State for Midlands provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya yesterday confirmed he was warned and cautioned by the police over his letter.

He however, declined to give further detail referring this reporter to River valley Properties and the police.

“Are investigating me? Who gave you the letter I wrote to the Minister (Cde Ncube)? You have no right to continue investigating me, the police spoke to me and they released me so why are you asking me the same questions as if you are a police officer?,” he asked.

The Herald is in possession of the letter that Bako wrote to Minister Ncube and copied to all other Provincial heads in which he wanted compensation from the land he occupied as a squatter.

“I was the owner of a piece of land popularly known as Sengejira but now known as Woodlands Park.

“In 2011 the then Governor and later Minister of State (Midlands Province), Mr Jason Machaya in the company of a delegation from River valley Properties approached me at my farm and indicated that my farm had been earmarked for Urban expansion. Compensation was however promised but until now I have received nothing,” reads part of the letter.