Harare – Zimbabwe’s vice president Constantino Chiwenga has welcomed the forfeiture of a luxury house and two Range Rovers belonging to his ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa by South African authorities who deemed the property as proceeds of crime.
In a statement Chiwenga’s lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri said Chiwenga, a former army chief hopes the proceeds from the auctioning of the upmarket house and two Range Rovers in Pretoria will be transferred to Zimbabwe.
”Our client welcomes this significant development and commends the collaborative efforts the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe and it’s South African counterparts in pursuing justice across its borders.
The ruling by the Gauteng High Court affirms the principle that proceeds of crime have no sanctuary within the region,” Uriri said.
”Importantly, the funds in question are to be forfeited to the State of the Republic of Zimbabwe, consistent with the global stance against illicit financial flows and the recovery of assets acquired through unlawful means.”
Uriri who was instructed by Machingura legal practitioners said Chiwenga cooperated with the authorities to have the property forfeited by the state.
”Our client also wishes to place it on record that, upon becoming aware of the unlawful activities in question, he promptly reported the matter and has since rendered his full cooperation to the National Prosecuting Authority,” Uriri said.
”His actions were motivated solely by the national interest and in furtherance of justice and accountability.”
A South African court recently ruled that the house and two vehicles owned by Mubaiwa “were linked to the alleged proceeds of unlawful activities, including money laundering and illicit financial flows.”
Mubaiwa is facing attempted murder charges in which she is accused to trying to kill Chiwenga when he was in hospital in South Africa.
Chiwenga was taken ill to a South African hospital after suspected poisoning.
He survived the poisoning after he was taken to China where he spent several months admitted in hospital.
When Chiwenga came back to Zimbabwe he divorced his wife and accused her of trying to kill him in South Africa.
Mubaiwa has denied the charges. She has been facing ill-health since his arrest in Zimbabwe and has had her leg and hand amputated.
Mubaiwa is still facing trial at the Harare magistrates court and her divorce with Chiwenga is still before the courts.
Marry Mubaiwa has been denied access to her children that she had with Chiwenga.
Chiwenga has since married his former army junior, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga.