PRETORIA – Marry Mubaiwa, former wife of Zimbabwe’s Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga, has lost a luxury property and two Range Rover vehicles in South Africa, after the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled they were proceeds of crime.
Zimbabwe’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed the forfeiture in a statement, adding that the move highlighted the success of cross-border legal cooperation.
The forfeiture order, granted on December 5, 2022, by Justice JJ Strijdom, declared Erf 191 Sterrewag, Extension 3, a luxury immovable property in Pretoria, and two Land Rover Range Rovers (bearing registration numbers HJ40JNGP and HX615GGP) forfeited to the South African State.
These assets had been under a preservation order since February 9, 2022, linked to alleged unlawful activities, including money laundering and illicit financial flows.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the High Court directed that the properties be placed under the custody of an auctioneer, with proceeds from their public sale intended to compensate the victim(s) of the offense.
One of the forfeited vehicles has reportedly already been auctioned, and the proceeds are slated for transfer to the victim.
“The outcome reflects the enduring partnership between the NPA of South Africa and its Zimbabwean counterpart in addressing transnational financial crimes and the recovery of proceeds of crime,” the NPA stated.
“This forfeiture action aligns with our shared obligations under international and regional instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the SADC Protocol Against Corruption, which emphasize mutual legal assistance, asset tracing, and the confiscation of illicit assets.
“On behalf of the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, we wish to express our appreciation to the South African National Prosecuting Authority, in particular the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), for their professional and principled handling of this matter.
“The decisive action by the Gauteng High Court sends a clear message that crime, particularly of a transnational nature, will not be tolerated and that illicit assets have no sanctuary within the region.
“We remain committed to supporting such enforcement actions and enhancing our collaboration to uphold justice and accountability across borders,” the NPAZ in Zimbabwe said.
Mubaiwa’s troubles began in 2019 with her arrest on a litany of charges, including marriage perjury, money laundering, and attempted murder in connection with an alleged plot to kill Chiwenga when he was hospitalised in South Africa.
