Former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) chief
executive officer Frank Chitukutuku, who is under investigation for fraud, has
been given a 30-day ultimatum to give an account of how he acquired an array of
immovable and movable assets worth over US$20 million.
High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere ordered a freeze of
the assets pending finalisation of the criminal case.
Chitukutuku now has to give a detailed statement to the
head of the police’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) within a month.
The State claims Chitukutuku may have acquired his property
through criminal activities, hence the need to have the same frozen.
The decision was made following an ex-parte application by
Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi for an unexplained wealth and asset
freezing order in terms of Section 37B as read with Section 37H of Presidential
Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of
Crime Act (Chapter 9:24) and Exchange Control Act) Regulations, 2018 (Statutory
Instrument 246 of 2018).
Justice Ndewere ruled in favour of the State and barred any
interested parties from dealing, in any way, with the property in question.
The order was issued after convincing arguments by the
prosecution team led by chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura. Mr Mutangadura heads the asset forfeiture unit at the
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Chitukutuku is said to have acquired 10 motor vehicles
between September 2013 and April last year.
These vehicles include two Mazda T35 trucks, a Hino Dutro
truck, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado, Nissan NP200, Range Rover, Hino
Ranger and a Land Rover Discovery.
Sometime in 2011, Chitukutuku reportedly acquired
residential properties namely: Property measuring 4 048 square metres held
under Deed of Transfer 3232/11 situated at Lot 1 of Lot 3 of Lot 56A Borrowdale
Estate, Harare and another one measuring 8 853 square metres held under Deed of
Transfer 3885/11 situated at Lot 3 of Subdivision C of Subdivision B of
Subdivision D of Nthaba of Glen Lorne.
The State also claims Chitukutuku built or acquired a
multi-million dollar thatched precast-walled house at the top of a mountain at
Belmont Farm, Goromonzi, adding he also has six state-of-the-art fowl runs,
five tractors, a 10-tonne UD truck, 4 x 200-litre PVC water tanks, as well as
several structures at the farm.
Apart from a long list of expensive properties, Chitukutuku
is also said to be the owner of two renowned companies, Farm Pride (Private)
Limited situated at 49 Kent Road, Chisipite, Harare and an insurance company,
Champions Insurance, which boasts of assets estimated at over US$15 million.
According to the State, Chitukutuku acquired the properties
at a time he was lawfully earning a combined $8 500 from Zinara as well as his
farming activities. Herald
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