HARARE,— A Harare-based construction company and its owners are facing serious fraud charges after allegedly duping Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Minyothabo Baloyi Chiwenga, out of nearly US$1 million.
The couple, representing Gray Homes Construction Company, appeared before Harare Magistrate Donald Ndirowei to answer to charges of defrauding Chiwenga’s wife, a colonel in the Zimbabwe National Army.
The charges against Gray and Annavestah Mudiwa, who run the construction company, stem from their failure to fulfill a contract to build a double-storey house, a cottage, and a perimeter wall for Mrs. Chiwenga. Prosecutor Tafara Chirambira claimed that the couple misled Mrs. Chiwenga into believing they had the capacity to complete the construction project within 90 days. Based on these assurances, Chiwenga paid the company US$560,000 upfront.
However, the couple allegedly diverted some of the funds for personal use and failed to complete the project, resulting in a financial loss of US$389,100 to Mrs. Chiwenga.
In a separate count, the couple is accused of misleading Chiwenga again later that year by claiming they could construct a warehouse at Chivaraidze Farm in Goromonzi. Acting on this misrepresentation, Mrs. Chiwenga paid them an additional US$550,000, but the project was never completed, and the couple allegedly squandered US$390,000 of the payment.
The final charge relates to a third incident in September last year, when the couple allegedly convinced Mrs. Chiwenga to finance the construction of a shopping mall at Silalatshani Business Centre in Filabusi.
Mrs. Chiwenga paid them US$158,000 for the project, but the funds were reportedly misappropriated, with the couple allegedly diverting US$151,000.
The case, which has been remanded for a bail hearing, continues to unfold as the court investigates the full extent of the alleged fraud.
