South African court orders forfeiture of Marry Mubaiwa’s assets in money laundering case
HARARE, Zimbabwe — The High Court of South Africa has granted a forfeiture order against luxury assets owned by Marry Mubaiwa, the ex-wife of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, in a case linked to alleged money laundering and illicit financial flows.
The ruling, issued on Dec. 5, 2022, by Justice JJ Strijdom of the Gauteng Division in Pretoria, ordered that a property in Sterrewag, Pretoria, and two Land Rover Range Rovers registered under Mubaiwa’s name be forfeited to the South African state under Section 48 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The assets were initially placed under a preservation order on Feb. 9, 2022. One of the vehicles has since been auctioned, with proceeds expected to go toward compensating victims of the alleged crimes, authorities said.
In a statement Monday, Zimbabwe’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPAZ) called the ruling a “landmark demonstration” of cross-border legal cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“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,” the NPAZ said.
Mubaiwa, a Zimbabwean national, is a person of interest in ongoing criminal investigations. She faces multiple charges in Zimbabwe, including money laundering and attempted murder.
The Zimbabwean prosecutors praised the cooperation between the South African and Zimbabwean authorities, particularly the role of South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, in enforcing asset recovery tied to corruption and organized crime.
The forfeiture marks another blow for Marry Mubaiwa, whose dramatic fall from grace has been punctuated by legal troubles and severe health issues following her acrimonious split from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Once a fixture in Zimbabwe’s elite circles, Mubaiwa has faced a slew of charges, including attempted murder and money laundering. Prosecutors allege she tried to remove Chiwenga from life support while he was hospitalized in South Africa in 2019.
Her health has since deteriorated significantly. She suffers from acute lymphoedema and gangrene, which have led to multiple amputations. Mubaiwa’s court appearances often see the former model arriving by ambulance or being wheeled into court on a wheelchair.
