‘I reported her’: Chiwenga on ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa’s asset forfeiture

HARARE – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga says he promptly reported his ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa’s suspected criminal activities to authorities and fully cooperated with prosecutors, following a South African court’s decision to forfeit her luxury assets.

Mubaiwa was arrested in 2019 following dramatic allegations by Chiwenga, who accused her of attempting to murder him while he was in intensive care at a South African hospital. The alleged incident, which reportedly involved the forced removal of intravenous lines, led to a series of charges, including attempted murder, fraud, money laundering and the externalisation of funds.

In a statement issued Tuesday by his legal team, Chiwenga said his actions were driven “solely by the national interest and in furtherance of justice and accountability.”

This follows a ruling by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, which granted a forfeiture order against a property in Sterrewag and two Range Rover vehicles registered in Mubaiwa’s name. One of the vehicles has since been auctioned.

South African authorities allege the assets were acquired through money laundering and illicit financial flows. The property and vehicle were first placed under a preservation order in February 2022.

Zimbabwe’s National Prosecuting Authority called the ruling a “landmark demonstration” of regional cooperation against transnational crime and praised South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit for its role in recovering assets linked to organized crime and corruption.

Chiwenga’s lawyers said the ruling affirms “the principle that proceeds of crime have no sanctuary within the region” and confirmed that funds from the forfeiture would be repatriated to the Zimbabwean state.

Mubaiwa, a former model, has been embroiled in a series of legal battles since her acrimonious divorce from Chiwenga. Her health has significantly deteriorated due to lymphoedema and gangrene, resulting in multiple amputations. She often attends court in a wheelchair.

Once a prominent figure in Zimbabwe’s elite circles, Mubaiwa’s dramatic fall from grace has been marked by legal and health challenges. She remains a person of interest in ongoing investigations.