Former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri is
suspected of diverting US$32 million of public funds into family companies and
buying a large swathe of property, which the State now wants frozen pending the
final outcome of possible criminal cases and civil suits.
During his 25 years at the helm of the police, Chihuri and
his family acquired a lot of property and other assets.
So yesterday Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi filed an
application at the High Court seeking an order compelling Chihuri to explain
how he acquired his properties and he wants all the assets still in Zimbabwe
frozen until investigations and resulting court actions are complete.
Chihuri, his wife Isobel Halima Khan Chihuri, daughter
Samantha Hamadziripi Chihuri, and son Ethan Takudzwa Augustine Chihuri were
listed as the respondents in the application along with relatives Aitken and
Netsai Khan and six companies: Croxile Investments, Adamah Enterprises,
Mastermedia (Pvt) Ltd, Mastaw Investments and Rash Marketing.
In an affidavit deposed by Mr Hodzi, Chihuri is under
investigation for criminal abuse of office, money laundering, theft and fraud.
He accuses Chihuri of establishing a “syndicated criminal mafia” meant to
siphon public funds for his personal benefit and that of his cronies. This
would have entailed externalisation of money and money laundering abroad, he
said.
Mr Hodzi contends that Chihuri established the companies in
connivance with his relatives for the alleged purposes of siphoning funds from
the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s revolving fund held under CBZ Account number
0212050619002.
Isobel Chihuri, according to the State, is the managing
director for Mastaw Investments, which received US$3 823 285 from ZRP General
Headquarters after giving an allegedly fake business address.
Rewstand Enterprises received US$10 401 500 from ZRP
despite using an allegedly fake address. Investigations by the police found a
different company operating from that address, said Mr Hodzi.
Nodpack Investments (Pvt) Ltd of Bure Close in Strathaven,
Harare, whose directorship includes Clever Nziramasanga and had Isobel Halim
Chihuri as general manager, allegedly received US$5 766 252.31 from the police.
But, said Mr Hodzi, this address was a residential property for a Mrs Marange
who does not know Nodpack, raising strong suspicion that the address was fake.
Croxile Investments (Pvt) Ltd of 8 St Aubins Walk in
Chisipite received US$1 892 040 from the police, with Vanessa Madalisto Banda
listed as director and Isobel Chihuri as general manager. But the property
owner is a Mr Matongo who does not know about Croxile.
ZRP also released US$10 575 732 to Adamah Enterprises Pvt
Ltd of 29 Carsberg Avenue in Alexandra Park in Harare. Isobel Chihuri is also
general manager of this company with Nelia Mafunga listed as director. But investigations found this address belonged to another
company called Brightcoast Construction owned by Clever Nziramasanga.
Mastermedia (Pvt) Ltd, according to the State, is owned by
Isobel Khan Chihuri and it received US$1 073 038.08 from the ZRP Revolving Fund
from January 5, 2016 to February 9,
2017.
Rash Marketing, which is owned by a CBZ employee called
Shingirai Maponga and his spouse Sharon Maponga nee Tiyani, received US$764 370
from November 14, 2016 to December 12, 2016.
The companies won orders for the supply of goods and
services without going to tender.
Besides the company dealings, the State is keen for Chihuri
to explain his property holdings.
The State wants Chihuri to explain how he acquired 11
listed properties:
Seven residential stands at Police Heights on Gletwin Farm
in north-east Harare;
571 Zengeza Township;
9 hectares at Fishhponds in Lomagundi district (Deed of
Transfer 3177/90);
Stand 231 in Athlone in Greendale (Deed 1214/85) measuring
4 639 square metres; and
431 Quinnington in Borrowdale (5284/14) measuring 5 500
square metres.
Four vehicles are also listed under assets that need
explanation. Two combine harvesters, six tractors, two planters, three
motorbikes and a boom spray were found at Chihuri’s farms at Shamva and
Darwendale.
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