Tinaye Agere
Nyore Madzianike
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has seized assets acquired through proceeds of financial crimes valued at more than US$11,6 million since January last year.
The unit is now pursuing seizure orders for additional properties worth US$20 million.
Some of the assets belonged to high-profile individuals, including former Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, ex-Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) chief executive officer Mr Frank Chitukutuku and Ms Marry Mubaiwa.
NPA chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura told The Sunday Mail that the AFU was also handling four separate cases to forfeit assets worth US$20 million.
In January this year, the authority obtained court orders to forfeit cash, 20 cars and two immovable properties.
“To date, the total value of assets forfeited is US$11 600 000, with one seizure order valued at US$20 million still pending,” he said.
“There are three interdict orders for assets worth US$3,7 million and US$20 million in assets from four matters pending hearing at court.”
Some of the assets, Mr Mutangadura said, were recovered Mr Chihuri after obtaining an unexplained wealth order from the High Court.
The order was later varied by the same court, with the Prosecutor-General later appealing against the decision at the Supreme Court.
The matter has now been set for hearing during the second half of the legal year.
Mr Chihuri and his family are being asked to explain how they acquired a multi-million-dollar property portfolio that includes a US$7 million mansion in Gletwyn, Harare, sitting on 30 acres.
The plush 16-bedroom mansion has a small dam, seven lounges, nine garages and a helipad.
In addition, the family is also being asked to disclose how it acquired a US$3 860 000 plot in Juliasdale, Nyanga.
The Chihuri family must also explain how it acquired another property on Ibhalabhala Crescent, Selbourne, Bulawayo.
The property was transferred from the Chihuri family name to Tendai Madamombe’s name on July 24, 2018.
Mr Mutangadura said AFU has also forfeited a house in Ruwa belonging to former Parirenyatwa Hospital pharmacy stores controller Mr Russell Mwenye.
Mr Mwenye is presently facing charges of corruptly ordering hospital supplies at inflated prices from a company he was connected to.
The Supreme Court has confirmed the forfeiture order for his property, while his criminal matter is being heard at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.
AFU also obtained an unexplained wealth order against ex-Zinara boss Mr Chitukutuku requiring him to explain how he acquired assets valued at nearly US$20 million during his time at the roads authority.
It also intends to forfeit a 40 percent block of shares held by Mr Chitukutuku in Champions Insurance Company, a local insurance firm, and a property portfolio that includes houses and vehicles.
In addition, an international cooperation seizure order and ultimate confiscation order against Ms Marry Mubaiwa had been secured from the South African High Court.
“Marry Mubaiwa filed an application for rescission of the forfeiture judgment and the matter will be heard in July in the South African High Court,” said Mr Mutangadura.
Ms Mubaiwa had assets valued at R11,2 million frozen by South African authorities.
The properties comprise a mansion on Sterrewag Road in Pretoria and two Range Rover vehicles registered as HJ40JNGP and HX615GGP.
In an order granted by a South African High Court in Pretoria last year, the AFU was allowed to take over assets owned by Ms Mubaiwa and those registered in her company, La Chelle Travel Tours (Private) Limited, in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The property was seized pending forfeiture to the Zimbabwean Government.
The AFU was set up to “suppress the abuse of the financial system and enable the unlawful proceeds of all serious crime and terrorist acts to be identified, traced, frozen, seized and eventually confiscated’ in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act”.
Since last year, the division has also managed to render advisory services to investigative agencies such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
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