Vusumuzi Dube
Trust Freddy
THE National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has seized assets worth more than US$200 million over the past five years after intensifying efforts to recover wealth acquired through criminal activities.
The recoveries, made during the 2021-2025 strategic period, were achieved through forfeiture and preservation orders issued under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, which empowers the State to trace, freeze and confiscate assets linked to criminal conduct.
The development comes as NPAZ unveiled its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan in Harare on Thursday, with Prosecutor-General Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo declaring that asset recovery will no longer be treated as a secondary outcome of prosecutions but as a central pillar of the fight against corruption.
“A core component of the 2026–2030 strategy is the utilisation of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to recover stolen wealth,” she said.
“During the period 2021-2025, the NPAZ managed to recover over US$200 million through forfeiture and preservation orders.
“The objective for 2026-2030 is to build on this momentum by making asset recovery a primary policy goal rather than an afterthought.”
Asset recovery refers to the legal process through which the State identifies, traces, freezes, confiscates and ultimately forfeits property that is either the direct proceeds of crime or was acquired using criminal proceeds.
This includes cash, vehicles, houses, businesses and other valuables, even where the assets are held by third parties or concealed through complex financial structures.
Under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, courts may issue preservation orders to prevent suspects from disposing of property during investigations, followed by forfeiture orders that permanently transfer the assets to the State once they are proven to be tainted by criminality.
Importantly, the law allows for civil forfeiture, meaning assets can be confiscated even without a criminal conviction, provided the State proves on a balance of probabilities that the property is linked to crime.
To strengthen this framework, Justice Matanda-Moyo outlined a three-pronged strategy for the next five years, beginning with intensified financial investigations supported by enhanced cross-border co-operation to track illicit transactions and offshore assets.
Central to this approach is the push for stronger whistleblower protection, with the NPAZ calling for the finalisation of the Whistleblower Protection Bill, which she described as a critical missing link in the anti-corruption ecosystem.
The proposed law aims to protect individuals who expose corruption, fraud and other serious crimes from retaliation, victimisation or loss of employment.
It also seeks to encourage the reporting of complex financial crimes by guaranteeing confidentiality, legal immunity and safety for whistleblowers, thereby improving intelligence-gathering and case-building.
Justice Matanda-Moyo also lamented the heavy toll illicit financial flows continue to exact on the national economy, vowing that 2026 would mark a decisive shift towards corporate accountability.
“We must confront a painful reality: Zimbabwe loses approximately US$1,5 billion to US$2 billion per annum through illicit financial flows, according to the African Development Bank and Global Financial Integrity reports,” she said.
“These are precious resources that belong to the people — wealth that could be used to build hospitals, schools and a modern economy.”
Illicit financial flows (IFFs) refer to the illegal movement of money or capital across borders, often through practices such as tax evasion, trade misinvoicing, smuggling, corruption, money laundering and the concealment of profits in offshore tax havens.
They typically occur when companies or individuals deliberately under-declare exports, over-invoice imports, bribe officials, or shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions to avoid paying taxes locally.
“These leakages must be stopped,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
“Let the message be clear to those who undermine our economy: tax evaders and money launderers will face the full, unyielding wrath of the law. Furthermore, 2026 will be a year of corporate accountability.”
She said the NPAZ will pursue corruption cases more aggressively, particularly those referred by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and the Police Anti-Corruption Unit.
“In 2026, the NPAZ will be more aggressive with regard to all cases submitted by Zacc and the Police Anti-Corruption Unit,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
“Through the NPAZ’s commitment to effective prevention and robust asset recovery, we will ensure that what was stolen from the nation is returned to the nation.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment today that these cases will be handled with the highest professional integrity, and evidence will be presented with the precision and quality required to secure convictions.
“We are here to ensure that crime does not pay, and that justice serves as the bedrock of our economy.”
The NPAZ’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, established in terms of Section 27A of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, is responsible for implementing the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.
Its mandate includes identifying, tracing, freezing and confiscating unlawful proceeds of serious crimes and terrorist activities, while suppressing abuse of the financial system.
Online Reporter