BY MOSES MATENGA
FRESH details in the arrest of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry Mubaiwa, have revealed how the former top model financed a flashy lifestyle, buying top-of-the-range vehicles and houses in South Africa.
Mubaiwa (38) was arrested on Saturday and is facing allegations of fraud for misrepresenting to court officials that her husband had consented to a marriage ceremony when, in fact, he had not as he was bedridden.
She also faces allegations of externalising more than US$1 million to South Africa and China between October 2018 and May 2019.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) spokesperson John Makamure said Mubaiwa would likely appear in court today.
“She is likely to appear in court today,” he said yesterday.
According to a Zacc memo seen by NewsDay, Mubaiwa, mentioned as chief executive officer of East Town Holdings and shareholder of a company called Tarnor Investments, externalised close to a million dollars by misrepresentations on proforma invoices before converting the money to personal use.
“During the period extending from October 2018 to May 2019, the accused would instruct Memory Chakuinga, who is the managing director of two South Africa-based companies, namely Falcon Projects (Pvt) Ltd and Bonnette Electrical (Pvt) Ltd, which are based in Pretoria, South Africa, to raise proforma invoices for the purchases of either event tents, chairs and prepaid meters for consumption in Zimbabwe, when in actual fact the accused knew very well that after the funds were transferred to South Africa, she would then divert them for other personal purposes,” the memo read.
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In count one, Mubaiwa is said to have sent her driver Carrington Kazingizi and Terrence Mutandwa to China with US$114 000.
The money exited Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport without any declaration being made to the authorities, in contravention of the Exchange Control Act.
In November 2018, Mubaiwa allegedly instructed Chakuinga to come up with a proforma for the supply of event tents and chairs, which were then sent to CBZ Bank and also to the accused.
“On December 17, the accused on the strength of the proforma invoice, caused CBZ Bank to transfer US$201 846 through outgoing telegraphic transfer into a Falcon Projects Suppliers (Pvt) Ltd South African FNB Bank account number,” the memorandum read.
“Instead of the funds being used for the purchase of event tents and chairs, the accused instructed Memory Chakuinga to divert the funds to Range Rover Centre Menyln towards the purchase of the accused’s personal vehicle, a Range Rover Autobiography.”
The vehicle was registered in South Africa under Mubaiwa’s name.
Allegations are that in February 2019, the accused again instructed Chakuinga to come up with a proforma invoice for US$307 545 and diverted the funds to purchasing a house in South Africa, which was registered under the name of a company owned by Mubaiwa.
She is also accused of sourcing R3 million from a friend to buy another Range Rover and gave her US$230 769.
Another transaction involving her friend was undertaken, where the accused is said to have externalised more than US$36 923 Mubaiwa is also facing fraud charges that saw her misrepresenting to Judge President George Chiweshe that she and Chiwenga had consented to wed under the Marriage Act at their Borrowdale Brooke home.
The accused had allegedly already purchased diamond rings for the wedding.
“By such misrepresentation, the accused caused prejudice to the good administration and reputation of the complainant,” the memo read.
Mubaiwa is embroiled in an acrimonious divorce with the former army general after having married customarily in 2011.
