In a shocking turn of events, the Zimbabwean authorities have nabbed the wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga for reportedly externalizing over $1 million in a period of eight months and fraud. According to media reports, Ms. Marry Mubaiwa allegedly conspired to solemnize a wedding between herself and the Vice President without his information as he was bed-ridden due to some illness.
Ms. Marry Mubaiwa faces the charges of fraud, money laundering, and violations of exchange control regulations, said Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) here on Sunday.
The authorities arrested the Vice President’s wife on Saturday, and she is expected to appear in court today, said ZACC spokesperson John Makamure. He did not share any further details about the matter.
ZACC was appointed by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa this year and had been facing pressure to show that it has the capacity to resolve top-level graft. According to watchdog Transparency International’s estimates, the agency is costing the country a whopping $1 billion every year.
John Makamure added,
Ms. Mubaiwa used to obtain forex from CBZ Bank and transfer it to her personal use, according to highly placed sources.
According to reports, Ms. Mubaiwa purchased and furnished the property in South Africa’s Waterkloof Golf Estate. She had reportedly purchased two luxury Range Rover vehicles from the earnings.
ZACC has already begun proceedings to get hold of the property that was purchased with the help of externalized funds.
Reports claim that Ms. Mubaiwa flouted rules when she sent her driver last year in October Carrington Kazingizi and a Terrence Mutandwa to China with US$114 000 through Robert Mugabe International Airport. She did not make any such declaration about these trips beforehand that violate Exchange Control Act, Chapter 22:05.
Last year in November, Ms. Mubaiwa had directed Ms. Memory Chakuinga- who holds the position of Managing Director of two leading South African companies to generate a proforma invoice for supplying event tents and chairs, which were subsequently sent to CBZ Bank and also to the accused. In December last year, the accused on the basis of the proforma invoice made CBZ Bank transfer some funds via Outgoing Telegraphic Transfer into Falcon Projects Suppliers Private Limited South African FNB Bank.
According to the forex trading news source, instead of purchasing tents and chairs, Ms. Mubaiwa reportedly used the money for purchasing a Range Rover vehicle.
This year in February, Ms Mubaiwa directed Ms. Chakuinga to generate yet another proforma invoice for supplying prepaid household electric meters. Reports claim Ms. Mubaiwa externalized US$36 923,08 for the purchase of furniture for her South-Africa based home.
She also reportedly altered the truth to Judge President George Mutandwa Chiweshe that she has secured the approval of VP Chiwenga for marriage under Marriage Act, Chapter 5:11.