The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it is investigating more than 100 people suspected of having illegally acquired assets worth US$70 million through money laundering and other illicit financial deals.
NPA spokesperson Angeline Munyeriwa told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/npa-probes-100-over-us70m-ill-gotten-wealth">The Sunday Mail</a> that they are making more applications for unexplained wealth orders.
She said currently, there are 30 cases where “assets involving US$20 million are pending further investigations”.
There are also 12 court applications for forfeiture of assets valued at US$15.5 million have been filed.
Furthermore, the NPA also has 21 asset forfeiture cases, where they expect to seize properties worth US$10.8 million through the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).
Munyeriwa said a request for international cooperation for the recovery of assets worth US$2.7 million is underway, as well as investigations into properties valued at US$3 million.
She said the NPA was handling 25 cases with preservation court orders for assets worth US$9.3 million.
A preservation order is a legal document instructing the person under investigation not to destroy property, alter or delete any documents helpful to the sender. It prevents spoliation – destruction, alteration or mutilation of evidence. Said Munyeriwa:
<blockquote>
Five appeals against forfeiture orders worth US$1,4 million and two appeals against reinstatement of warrant of arrest are filed at the Supreme Court.
There is another application for declaration of constitutional invalidity of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Civil Forfeiture Provisions, which is pending at the Constitutional Court.
Assets involved in the Constitutional Court case involve US$250 000.
</blockquote>
Moreover, the NPA said the Prosecutor-General filed an appeal against the release of exhibits worth US$300 000 at the High Court.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

NPA Investigates 100 Over US$70 Million Unexplained Wealth

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is this year targetting to recover cash and assets valued at over US$1 billion that were acquired through proceeds of crime.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/zacc-hunts-for-us1-billion-loot">The Sunday Mail</a>, ZACC chairperson Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo expressed confidence that the target will be attained. Said Matanda-Moyo:
<blockquote>
For asset recovery this quarter, investigations into unexplained wealth are at advanced stages and the commission is confident that by the end of the year, the commission will have seized assets valued at US$1 billion…
The commission is on course and has made 61 arrests and referred 68 completed dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority.
</blockquote>
She said ZACC has already secured two high-profile convictions, that is, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) chief executive officer Saston Muzenda and Karoi provincial magistrate Felix Chauromwe.
Muzenda (48) was recently sentenced to 36 months in jail after being convicted of criminal abuse of office.
Chauromwe was jailed for his unlawful release from remand of three Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) officers in 2021.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said that ZACC will take the war against corruption to the private sector, especially mining, civil society and non-governmental organisations.
She added that ZACC will follow leads from various Auditor-General’s reports and ensure the alleged culprits are prosecuted.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZACC Targets US$1 Billion Unexplained Wealth

A former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officer who is in trouble with authorities over the source of his wealth reportedly splashed money on women.
This was revealed just a day after the prosecutor-general (PG) pleaded with the High Court to forfeit the ex-official, Kennedy Elisha Nyatoti’s wealth on allegations that it was gathered through unorthodox means.
Meanwhile, Nyatoti’s wife, Tatenda Spiwe Nyatoti (nee Chisadza) has filed divorce summons with the same court saying she cannot stay with an adulterous man anymore. She said:
<blockquote>The marriage between the parties has irretrievably broken down and there are no prospects of its restoration of a normal marital relationship…the defendant has committed adultery and gone to marry another woman.
The parties have lost love and affection for each other. The defendant (Nyatoti) has exhibited serious violent tendencies towards the plaintiff.
… Upon separation in January 2019, defendant retained all the movables located in Beitbridge whilst the plaintiff (Chisadza) retained all the movable located in Goromonzi. It is just equitable that each party retains the movable property in their custody to date.</blockquote>
Nyatoti whose total earnings for the two years he served at ZIMRA totalled US$44 000 reportedly bought an expensive stand in the upmarket Mabvazuva suburbs and completed to build a world-class house, all worth over US$150 000.
Nyatoti is also alleged to have bought cars for his wife, sister and mother.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/unexplained-wealth-ex-zimra-officer-ditched-by-wife/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Ex-ZIMRA Boss In Unexplained Wealth Storm Dumped By Wife

A Harare couple employed by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has been given 30 days by the High Court to declare their source of wealth.
Tapfumaneyi Zunguza and his wife Cathrine Laji’s properties are valued at $762 000 and could be forfeited to the State.
Zunguza is a revenue supervisor while his wife, Cathrine is employed as a revenue officer.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the couple acquired residential stands number 3807 and 3808 in Mainway Meadows, Waterfalls, Harare in 2009.
They bought another another stand in Helensvale measuring 2 200, again in 2009. Construction work started in 2011 and finished in 2013.
The couple also bought a Mazda BT50 twin cab for $40 000. They did not declare the properties as required.
The NPA’s Asset Asset Forfeiture Unit filed an urgent chamber application against the couple and was granted by Justice Tawanda Chitapi on April 16.
The couple will lose the properties if it fails to explain how they were acquired.
<h4>Related:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/03/21/zimra-workers-annoyed-by-new-board-chair-callisto-jokonya/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZIMRA Workers Annoyed By New Board Chair, Callisto Jokonya</a></h4>
</li>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/04/24/full-text-zimra-customs-rummage-sale-for-harare-ports-on-25-april/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FULL TEXT: ZIMRA Customs Rummage Sale For Harare Ports On 25 April</a></h4>
</li>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/04/17/zimra-lifts-garnish-order-on-ziscosteel-accounts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZIMRA Lifts Garnish Order On ZISCOSTEEL Accounts</a></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/04/zimra-couple-ordered-to-explain-source-of-wealth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Newsday</a></h4>

ZIMRA Couple Set To Lose Unexplained Wealth

The government is moving towards crafting an Act that will allow for the investigation and seizing of ill-gotten wealth form individuals.
Last year the government President Emmerson Mnangagwa gazetted the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act and Exchange Control Act). The regulations empowered the government to seize unexplained wealth.
However, the regulations legally enforceable for 6 months only. In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said:
<blockquote>When you invoke Presidential Powers Temporary Measures, they last for six months. The Bill has to be brought to Parliament within six months. By March or early April, the legislation should be in place.
We removed the section on Presidential Powers Temporary Measures Act on unexplained wealth (from the Finance Bill) because it’s not a finance matter per se, it would complicate issues… For the sake of progress, we just had to draft a separate Bill.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/govt-targets-ill-gotten-wealth">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

NPA Latest News

Latest Jobs