Authorities in South Africa have begun auctioning assets belonging to Marry Mubaiwa, the former wife of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, to compensate victims of suspected financial misconduct, officials confirmed.
The auction involves property located in Pretoria, which authorities believe is tied to criminal financial activities.
In a statement released on Monday, Zimbabwe’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the auction follows a December 2022 ruling by the South African High Court, which ordered the forfeiture of Mubaiwa’s high-end property in Sterrewag, Extension 3, and two Land Rover vehicles. The court ruled that these assets, which had been under a preservation order since February 2022, were proceeds of crimes such as money laundering and illicit financial transactions.
One of the vehicles has already been sold, with funds from the sale expected to be transferred to those harmed by the crimes.
According to the NPA, the case represents a significant example of cross-border legal collaboration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It reflects growing efforts by South African and Zimbabwean authorities to jointly tackle transnational financial crimes and recover ill-gotten wealth.
Tracing the Alleged Fraud
The case against Mubaiwa began in October 2021, when Zimbabwe submitted a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request to South Africa. Zimbabwe’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Commissioner, Frank Muchengwa, told South African investigators that a whistleblower had revealed how Mubaiwa allegedly moved funds out of Zimbabwe under false pretenses.
According to the allegations, Mubaiwa directed her niece, Memory Chakulinga, who managed two South African companies linked to her—Falcon Project Pty and Bonnets Electrical Pty—to generate false invoices for purchases such as tents and prepaid meters. These invoices were then presented to the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) to justify fund transfers.
However, investigators claim that instead of being used to buy the listed items, the funds were redirected to buy luxury items and property in South Africa.
Chakulinga reportedly told authorities that Mubaiwa had approached her to assist with setting up a business in South Africa, claiming she had secured a government tender in Zimbabwe and had access to foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
In one instance, a payment of R203,308 was allegedly sent from CBZ under the pretense of purchasing tents. Upon receiving the funds, Chakulinga says she was told by Mubaiwa to use the money to purchase a Range Rover at a dealership in Menlyn, Pretoria. Despite initial claims that the vehicle would be sent to Zimbabwe, it was later registered in South Africa under Mubaiwa’s name.
Further Transactions and Vehicle Purchases
Chakulinga also said that in May of the same year, another R2 million was transferred into a company account, supposedly for buying prepaid meters. Instead, she was instructed to send nearly R500,000 to a trust account belonging to Martin Potgieter.
Bank records reviewed during the investigation showed a pattern of financial flows from CBZ to accounts in South Africa. One of Mubaiwa’s business associates, Jeffery Jenje, who was a signatory on accounts tied to her company, East Town Commodities, confirmed some of the payments and vehicle purchases.
Supporting evidence from Jacobus Hercules Du Preez indicated that Mubaiwa bought two luxury vehicles worth R1.6 million and R1.8 million, respectively.
Authorities also discovered that Mubaiwa acquired a house through a network of companies and individuals acting on her behalf, using cash sourced from various local businesses.
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