ZIMBABWE: Mary Chiwenga, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has been arrested for causing a fraudulent marriage between herself and the former army General to be registered.
Chiwenga and his wife are said to have fallen out after the former model allegedly asked the VP to formalise their marriage when he was on his sick bed at a South African hospital.
The former army general who led the military coup that toppled long time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017 spent the better part of this year battling for his life in hospitals in South Africa, China and India.
When he was flown to China, Marry was allegedly banned from visiting him. On his return to Harare on November 23 she was not among those that welcomed him at the Robert Mugabe International Airport.
Marry was also conspicuous by her absence a week later when Chiwenga held a prayer meeting and a party at his homestead in Wedza.
The two are said to be living separately after the VP moved into another house on arrival from China.
Marry was previously married to former Zimbabwe national soccer team player Shingi Kawondera, who is now suing her for $700 000 over their separation.
Kawondera claims that the VP’s wife forged his signature on the divorce consent papers and the alleged fraud cost him a business that they were jointly running.
A memorandum that has leaked to social media says Mary misrepresented to court officials that her husband had consented to a wedding ceremony when in truth and actual fact she knew very well that her husband was bedridden and had not consented to it thereby causing the marriage registration to be processed to the prejudice of reputation of her husband.
The marriage officer who solemnize the marriage is Munamato Mutevedzi.
Communications expert Dr Delta Milayo Ndou says the General is fighting Mary because she wants a share of the matrimonial wealth when they divorce.
“If Mary walks away without money and without her minor children, Chiwenga will likely leave her alone. But if she persists in fighting for custody and fighting to remain in her matrimonial home and fighting for maintenance and any other financial benefits she feels entitled to this VP won’t hesitate to completely annihilate her on all and any fronts that he can think of. So it’s also very much about power. About who has it and who doesn’t. And Chiwenga has it in spades….he is not restrained in deploying it and is ruthless too. She’ll get no justice.” Ndou said.
Read below the memorandum regarding the arrest.
MEMORANDUM
TO: OCHARARE SUBURBAN
FROM: OIC RHODESVILLE
DATED: 14/12/19
SUBJECT: CRIMINAL MATTERS: ARREST AND DETENTION OF VICE PRESIDENT CHIWENGA’S WIFE-MARRY MUBAIWA
CIRCUMSTANCES
On the 14th day of December 2019 at 1705 hours officials from the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) arrested and detained Marry Mubaiwa NR 59-033571 Z 59 aged 38 of Number 614 Nickprice Drive Borrowdale Brooke Harare, cell 0772 374 300 who is the wife of Zimbabwe ‘s vice President Constantine Guvheya Nyikadzino Chiwenga for C/S 5(1)(a)(I) of the Exchange Control Act, Chapter 22:05 ARW Section 20 (1)(b) of the Exchange control regulations,SI 109/1996 and Fraud as defined in section 136 of the code.
The allegations are that on period between October 2018 and May 2019 the accused externalised US$1 000 000,00 to China and South Africa. The accused also misrepresented to court officials that her husband had consented to a wedding ceremony when in truth and actual fact accused knew very well that her husband was bedridden and had not consented to it thereby causing the marriage registration to be processed to the prejudice of reputation of her husband. The accused is detained under ZACC REF RR98/11/19 and Rhodesville D/B 811/19 refers.
According to local Newspaper,”The Standard” Marry, who has not been seen in public since her husband returned from China where he was hospitalised for over four months, was arrested by detectives from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
The nature of the charges she is facing remained unclear last night as Zacc officials said they were not yet in the picture.
John Makamure, the Zacc spokesperson said he could only confirm that Marry was detained at a Harare police station as part of investigations into allegations that she was involved in money laundering.
“It’s true that Marry Chiwenga has been picked by Zacc and is assisting with investigations into allegations of money laundering and externalisation levelled against her,” he said.
“That is only what I can tell you.”
Zacc chairperson Loice Matanda Moyo and other Zacc commissioners were not reachable until the time of going to print.
Some sources said the arrest could be linked to a property that Marry allegedly bought in neighbouring South Africa.
Source : kioo17journal
