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February 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Tuesday 25 February 2025
*NEWS UPDATES*
*THE HEADLINES*
*More War Vets fight in Cde Bombshell Geza’s corner, criticize President Mnangagwa: “We agree with Geza and those who are demanding change”*
*Varakashi Start Persecuting Journalist Who Asked Chiwenga Hot Question*
*Chivhayo In Fresh Mnangagwa Family Photo-Shoot…(see pic above)*
*Mnangagwa Sets Up Parallel Secret Spy Network to Counter Chiwenga*
*Breast cancer diagnoses and deaths expected to surge worldwide, says WHO*
*CBZ wanted ZB’s crown jewels in its push to build a giant bank- competition regulator said no*
*Mbare Police Officers convicted over fake tollgate*
*Zim Hit By Serious ECD Teacher Shortages*
*Sengezo Tshabangu fights for political survival*
*High court orders forfeiture of US$40k property to recover US$13k stolen funds*
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*THE DETAILS WITH IGNITE MEDIA ZIMBABWE*
_*More War Vets fight in Cde Bombshell Geza’s corner, criticize President Mnangagwa: “We agree with Geza and those who are demanding change”*_
A groundswell of discontent is brewing within the ranks of Zimbabwe’s war veterans, with a growing number voicing their support for Zanu PF central committee member Blessed “Bombshell” Geza’s recent call for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down.
The War Veterans Pressure Group (WVPG) has become the latest voice to condemn Mnangagwa’s government, citing alleged suppression of dissent, constitutional violations, and a perceived abandonment of the values that underpinned Zimbabwe’s hard-won independence.
The WVPG’s criticism follows Geza’s much-publicised and scathing attack on Mnangagwa’s leadership, which has reportedly forced the former into hiding. The pressure group’s statement underscores a growing sense of disillusionment among veterans who feel that the current administration has strayed from the principles of the liberation struggle.
“To that end, our perception of the situation in the country resonates with that expressed by comrades, specifically, Cde Geza and war-time commanders who are demanding change,” the group stated, aligning themselves with Geza’s sentiments and the broader calls for reform.
The WVPG went on to paint a grim picture of Zimbabwe’s current state, accusing State authorities of systemic abuse, economic mismanagement, and implementing policies that “reverse the gains of the revolution.” The group’s statement paints a picture of a nation “adrift in a sea of corruption, kleptocracy and lawlessness,” warning that the current trajectory dishonours the sacrifices made during the liberation war.
The lobby group accused Mnangagwa’s government of betrayal following its decision to compensate white former farmers who lost their farms during Zimbabwe’s land reform programme at the turn of the century.
In 2019, Mnangagwa’s government agreed to pay US$3,5 billion as compensation for farm improvements to farmers who lost their land during the fast-track land reform exercise.
The government has also allowed former white farmers to apply to get their seized properties back.
At least 4 000 former white farmers lost their land during the land reform programme.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube early this month said the government would pay 94 former farm owners from countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and the former Yugoslavia.
The farmers are covered under Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs) that Zimbabwe signed with the farmers’ countries.
Ncube said US$20 million would be paid from the 2024 budget and another US$20 million the 2025 budget.
The WVPG also criticised Mnangagwa’s administration for bypassing parliamentary oversight in decisions related to the Compensation Deed and a new land policy requiring veterans to purchase land titles for properties they fought to reclaim. Citing sections 293(3) and 295(4) of the Constitution, which mandate legislative involvement in such matters, the group declared the move “a regressive betrayal of our fallen heroes.”
The veterans also denounced the controversial “2030 Agenda,” an proposal by Mnangagwa’s allies to extend his term by two years, labelling it a “nefarious subversion of the Constitution”.
The WVPG’s statement detailed past confrontations between the group and State institutions, including the 2021 arrest of 39 members during a peaceful gathering at Africa Unity Square in Harare. The veterans had gathered to deliver a petition urging the government to honour a High Court order directing payment of a monthly pension equivalent to US$2 000, as stipulated under Statutory Instrument 280 of 1997.
According to the WVPG, the charges against the activists were dropped three years later due to lack of evidence, following prolonged legal harassment. “This exemplifies the State’s ironfist approach to silencing dissent,” the group asserted, linking the incident to broader accusations of authoritarianism.
Among their demands, the veterans called for urgent economic interventions to address rising prices and inequality, alongside sweeping political reforms to curb graft and State capture. They also demanded compensation for victims of the 1980s Gukurahundi massacres — a period of State-sanctioned violence targeting dissenters — and the return of properties seized from the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army. Furthermore, the group urged the government to prioritise the benefiting of citizens from natural resources over foreign interests.
Veterans of the Liberation Struggle minister Monica Mavhunga was not answering her phone when NewsDay tried to seek a comment from her.
Meanwhile, former Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has weighed in on the growing dissent, suggesting that President Mnangagwa’s days in office are numbered. Kasukuwere, who has been in self-imposed exile in South Africa since the 2017 military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, believes that Mnangagwa has lost a crucial constituency from which he cannot recover: the war veterans.
“Once those war veterans say your job is done, that’s the end. He’s hanging around, but the truth of the matter is he’s gone. The most critical branch in Zanu-PF is that thing called the war veterans,” Kasukuwere said in an interview with HStv released two weeks ago.
Kasukuwere, a former Minister in the Robert Mugabe government and also a former CIO operative, spoke as a group of outspoken war veterans revealed plans for a nationwide shutdown to force Mnangagwa to step down.
The group is led by Blessed Geza, who denies that they are acting as a front for Mnangagwa’s ambitious deputy, retired army general Constantino Chiwenga. Police have since said that Geza was wanted on four charges – incitement to commit public violence, undermining the authority of the president, vehicle theft and allegedly selling three vehicles without the owner’s consent.
_*Varakashi Start Persecuting Journalist Who Asked Chiwenga Hot Question*_
A wave of online harassment has erupted against journalist Annahstacia Ndlovu after she posed a pointed question to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga during the 21st Movement function in Bulawayo last Friday. The online group, identifying themselves as “Varakashi,” has launched a coordinated campaign of abuse, trolling, and intimidation against Ndlovu, in a development that raises concerns over press freedom and the safety of journalists in Zimbabwe.
Ndlovu’s question, which touched on the contentious issue of extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule until 2030, seemed to ignite the backlash. On the sidelines of the event, she briefly asked Chiwenga for his thoughts on the growing calls for Mnangagwa to remain in power, a query that was met with a diplomatic response from the Vice President. However, the fallout online was swift and brutal.
Screenshots of the attacks circulating on social media reveal a barrage of derogatory comments and threats aimed at Ndlovu. The Varakashi group, known for aggressively defending the ruling party and its leadership, has targeted her with accusations of being anti-government and promoting a hostile agenda.
Media advocacy groups and human rights organizations have condemned the harassment, calling for immediate action to safeguard Ndlovu and ensure her freedom to perform her journalistic duties without fear.
“These kind of threats nd intimidation of journalists doing their duties must be strongly condemned . Faceless thugs stay away from our media guys. Safety and Security of journalists under threat,” said Media Centre Masvingo in a Tweet.
These kind of threats nd intimidation of journalists doing their duties must be strongly condemned . Faceless thugs stay away from our media guys. Safety and Security of journalists under threat.
Ndlovu has not yet released a public statement regarding the harassment, but colleagues have expressed concerns over her safety and well-being. Calls are growing for law enforcement agencies to investigate the threats and hold perpetrators accountable.
This incident comes at a critical time when Zimbabwe’s political landscape is under intense scrutiny, with debates over leadership succession and governance reform taking center stage. The government has not yet commented on the online abuse directed at Ndlovu.
More updates to follow as the story develops.
_*Chivhayo In Fresh Mnangagwa Family Photo-Shoot*_
A fresh picture of convicted fraudster and controversial businessman Wicknell Chivhayo alongside President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his twin sons, Sean and Collins, has surfaced on social media, further fueling speculation about his deep ties to the First Family and his role in state-linked corruption.
The image, taken in an opulent setting adorned with Zimbabwean national symbols, underscores Chivhayo’s proximity to power—an association that has allowed him to amass wealth through questionable government contracts.
From the botched Gwanda solar project, where he received millions without delivering, to alleged defence contracts, Chivhayo’s fortunes have skyrocketed while Zimbabweans endure worsening economic hardships.
Adding to the controversy, Chivhayo reportedly travelled to Kenya last weekend, allegedly delivering another tranche of illicit funds linked to his murky business dealings.
Sources with insider knowledge of his operations claim that his frequent trips abroad—often aboard his private jet—are part of a broader network of financial manoeuvres benefiting Zimbabwe’s ruling elite.
“Wicknell Chivhayo traveled to Kenya this afternoon with his fiancée to deliver yet another ‘loot.’ His flight history shows that he has been busy, frequently flying in and out of Zimbabwe, running his usual ‘errands,’” a source disclosed.
His recent meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto raised further eyebrows, with critics suggesting that Chivhayo is expanding his financial operations beyond Zimbabwe.
The visit reinforced suspicions that he is a conduit for illicit transactions, possibly leveraging political connections to facilitate cross-border money movements.
However, not everyone in ZANU-PF supports Chivhayo’s growing influence.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga recently took a veiled swipe at individuals like him, warning those exploiting ties to the First Family for corrupt activities.
Speaking at a gathering, Chiwenga described some of Mnangagwa’s close allies as Zvigandanda—bootlickers who enrich themselves through unchecked patronage.
He suggested that their time was running out and hinted that some could face legal consequences if he takes over the presidency in 2028.
This statement has been widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Mnangagwa’s inner circle, particularly business figures like Chivhayo, whose controversial dealings continue to dominate public discourse.
The remarks highlight growing factionalism within ZANU-PF, as Chiwenga positions himself as a potential successor while subtly undermining Mnangagwa’s allies.
Despite mounting criticism, Mnangagwa has repeatedly defended Chivhayo.
When asked about their relationship and the businessman’s dubious financial dealings, Mnangagwa dismissed concerns.
“If there is anyone who has lost money to Chivhayo, they should report him to the police,” he told journalists—remarks widely seen as a tacit endorsement of Chivhayo’s activities.
_*Mnangagwa Sets Up Parallel Secret Spy Network to Counter Chiwenga*_
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has set up a parallel intelligence agency meant to counter his deputy, General Chiwenga. According to sources within his covert agency, the structures were established immediately after he took office in 2017, a clear sign that he had no intentions to hand over power any time soon.
Leading this shadowy network, nicknamed the Zvigure, is Vongai Manungo, a former ZANU-PF party operative with questionable motives and a treacherous agenda.
The Zvigure operates outside the norms of Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and government intelligence apparatus, focusing their efforts on a rather conspicuous target: Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Manungo, whose ascent within the party ranks was marked by her proximity to prominent figures, is believed to wield substantial influence. As head of the Zvigure, she recruits operatives from the police and the military, including specialists from the Special Services Department (SAS) and even the disgraced CIO.
Her recruitment strategy is as brazen as it is effective, drawing on a roster of individuals who share a vested interest in both protecting their positions and tangling with the Vice President.
Rumors swirl that Manungo played a hand in the recent wave of “mysterious” illnesses that have afflicted high-ranking officials, including ministers and generals.
Whispers of her involvement in poisoning incidents have raised eyebrows and given rise to chilling paranoia among those navigating the treacherous waters of Zimbabwean politics.
The list of deceased and ailing leaders appears to be a testament to her potentially lethal operations. Chiwenga, with his growing distrust of the government’s conventional intelligence channels, must now grapple with a reality fraught with betrayal.
But why did Mnangagwa opt for this insidious approach?
The answer lies in a jigsaw puzzle of ambition, paranoia, and fractured loyalties. The president, knows that he is un electable and is quite aware that Zimbabweans wouldn’t want him to hang on to power.
Unlike, Mugabe, who at least had the backing of the CIO and the police, Mnangagwa is isolated with all the security apparats wanting the back of him. The irony that he is employing an unregulated faction to manage his affairs, in contrast to the well-resourced intelligence agencies at his disposal, illustrates a breakdown of faith in the very structures he once helped establish.
Moreso, ED has gone to create for ‘ED’ affiliates, parallel ZANU PF structures bent on keeping him in office even beyond the constitutional limit.
The Zvigure’s operations are suspected to be concentrated in Belvedere, a neighbourhood teeming with machinations and plots.
As the shadowy brigade of spies gathers intel on Chiwenga documenting every interaction, conspiring against his allies, and undermining his influence the Vice President stands on precarious ground.
Vongai Manungo’s machinations threaten to spiral into violence as old grievances resurface, painted by suspicions between comrades-turned-rivals.
The president’s clandestine dealings serve as both a shield and a sword, wielding the promise of power while suffocating the ideals upon which the nation was built.
Manungo was contacted for a comment.
_*Breast cancer diagnoses and deaths expected to surge worldwide, says WHO*_
Breast cancer diagnoses and deaths are projected to surge worldwide by 2050, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency has said, with cases in the UK to rise by 21% and deaths by 42%.
Globally, one in 20 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, with cases up 38% and deaths up 68% over the next 25 years, according to an analysis by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
There will be 3.2m new cases and 1.1m deaths a year worldwide by 2050 if current trends continue, the study found. In the UK, cases are expected to rise from 58,756 cases a year in 2022 to 71,006 cases a year in 2050. Deaths will jump from 12,122 a year in 2022 to 17,261 in 2050.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine.
“Every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide and one woman dies from the disease, and these statistics are worsening,” said the IARC scientist Dr Joanne Kim, one of the authors of the report.
“Countries can mitigate or reverse these trends by adopting primary prevention policies … and by investing in early detection and treatment.”
The projected increase in cases worldwide is probably due to a mix of factors, including a growing and ageing global population, improvements in detection and diagnosis, and a higher prevalence of known risk factors for the disease.
Factors that increase the risk of breast cancer include getting older, inherited faulty genes and a family history of the disease.
Globally, most breast cancer cases and deaths occur in women aged 50 and above, who account for 71% of new cases and 79% of deaths, the IARC said.
About a quarter of breast cancer cases can be prevented, the study’s authors said, for example by reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight and becoming more active.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women worldwide but its burden is not evenly distributed. The IARC said diagnosis rates were highest in Australia and New Zealand, followed by North America and northern Europe, and lowest in Asia and Africa. However, death rates were highest in Melanesia and Polynesia, and in west Africa.
Over the last decade, incidence rates grew by 1% to 5% a year in 27 of 50 countries studied, the IARC said. Importantly, breast cancer mortality rates decreased in 29 of 46 countries analysed.
Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram, the deputy head of the IARC’s cancer surveillance branch, said: “Continued progress in early diagnosis and improved access to treatment are essential to address the global gap in breast cancer and ensure that the goal of reducing suffering and death from breast cancer is achieved by all countries worldwide.”
_*CBZ wanted ZB’s crown jewels in its push to build a giant bank- competition regulator said no*_
The ZB takeover was meant to be a key chess piece in CBZ’s ambitions to consolidate its market dominance and build a big bank with regional clout.
But while the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) approved the deal, it came with a condition that stripped CBZ of the very assets it coveted most: ZB’s stake in property giant Mashonaland Holdings and its insurance businesses. For CBZ, this condition was the dealbreaker that forced it to walk away.
ZB is the largest shareholder in Mashonaland Holdings, one of Zimbabwe’s biggest property developers, with a portfolio that was worth US$85 million last year.
In 2023, ZB Life Assurance, ZB Financial Holdings, and ZB Reinsurance together controlled half of Mashold.
“Our main attraction is not really banking, but the other business units, which is your insurance, which is your property,” CBZ CEO Lawrence Nyazema had said last year.
CTC, however, ruled that the merger could only proceed without these assets. CBZ Chairman Luxon Zembe says that left the bank with no choice but to drop the takeover.
“We got the go-ahead, but on condition that ZB disinvests from key assets, Mashonaland Holdings, Cell Insurance and ZB Reinsurance,” Zembe says.
“But these were the very assets that we sought in the merger. It therefore made no business sense (to continue with the deal).”
Zembe dismisses CTC’s concern that the merger would create a monopoly. Instead, he argues, Zimbabwe needs a homegrown bank with the scale to underwrite major projects at home and to compete in the region, which is dominated by big South African banks.
This is not the first time CTC has blocked CBZ’s expansion; earlier, it barred the bank from taking control of First Mutual Limited.
“They decided to kill the deal, and to kill the national strategy,” Zembe says. CTC also insisted that CBZ and ZB continue operating separately—another condition that CBZ rejected.
The regulator, says Zembe, has no business setting strategy for companies.
A factor in CTC’s ruling may have been the long-standing dispute between Nicholas Vingirayi’s Transnational Holdings and ZB Holdings.
During Zimbabwe’s 2004 banking crisis, RBZ took over Intermarket Holdings Limited, a Transnational subsidiary, alleging mismanagement.
Intermarket’s assets—including the life insurance business and a stake in Mashold —were later sold to ZB. In 2015, the government reversed the takeover, and Transnational has claimed it is owed a significant stake in ZB.
Vingirayi had urged CTC to block the CBZ-ZB merger until the dispute was settled. In a letter to the regulator last year, he accused CBZ and ZB of acting in bad faith: “ZB and CBZ are approaching the authorities with unclean hands.”
For CBZ, the biggest loss is Mashonaland Holdings and its growing property portfolio.
Mashold owns a vast real estate book, including ZB Life Towers, West End Clinic, and Bluff Hill Industrial Park.
It has also completed new developments such as the Pomona Commercial Centre, with 14,000 square metres of lettable space, the Milton Park Hospital, and Mashview Gardens in Bluffhill.
CTC has not responded to requests for comment.
_*Mbare Police Officers convicted over fake tollgate*_
Two police officers from the Mbare Police Station in Harare have been convicted for creating their own unauthorised toll gate and extorting money from motorists, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) is reporting.
Naume Dube (31) and Victoria Shonhiwa (36), both constables, were found guilty of criminal abuse of duty after they systematically solicited US$1 from every driver passing through the main gate of the police station on March 11, 2024.
The officers effectively set up an illegal checkpoint, turning the police station’s entrance into a personal toll gate. Their scheme was uncovered following a tip-off, which led to surveillance by the Internal Investigations Department. During the operation, Dube and Shonhiwa were observed collecting bribes from motorists. Upon their arrest, Dube was found with US80 in her shirt pockets, while Shonhiwa had USD40.
Investigators also recovered a list of vehicle registration numbers, suggesting a coordinated effort to track and extort drivers.
The pair were arrested and handed over to the Police Anti-Corruption Unit.
The cash and documents were produced as evidence.
_*Zim Hit By Serious ECD Teacher Shortages*_
Two police officers from the Mbare Police Station in Harare have been convicted for creating their own unauthorised toll gate and extorting money from motorists, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) is reporting.
Naume Dube (31) and Victoria Shonhiwa (36), both constables, were found guilty of criminal abuse of duty after they systematically solicited US$1 from every driver passing through the main gate of the police station on March 11, 2024.
The officers effectively set up an illegal checkpoint, turning the police station’s entrance into a personal toll gate. Their scheme was uncovered following a tip-off, which led to surveillance by the Internal Investigations Department. During the operation, Dube and Shonhiwa were observed collecting bribes from motorists. Upon their arrest, Dube was found with US80 in her shirt pockets, while Shonhiwa had USD40.
Investigators also recovered a list of vehicle registration numbers, suggesting a coordinated effort to track and extort drivers.
The pair were arrested and handed over to the Police Anti-Corruption Unit.
The cash and documents were produced as evidence.
_*Sengezo Tshabangu fights for political survival*_
Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-appointed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary-general, is struggling to maintain his political relevance following his expulsion from the opposition party last week due to misconduct.
Tshabangu was dismissed after facing a disciplinary hearing for unilaterally making changes to CCC parliamentary portfolio holders without authorization from the party president or any official party organ.
Despite attending the disciplinary hearing, Tshabangu is contesting his expulsion, arguing that he was never a member of the CCC faction led by Welshman Ncube.
Before his expulsion, Tshabangu wielded significant influence over CCC affairs after the August 2023 elections. He was responsible for recalling dozens of lawmakers, but his preferred replacements struggled to win by-elections, resulting in several constituencies being won by Zanu-PF.
Zanu-PF capitalized on the opportunity, securing a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, a crucial step in its efforts to amend the Constitution. This shift in power dynamics also contributed to CCC founder Nelson Chamisa's decision to leave the party, citing infiltration concerns.
The recalls significantly weakened opposition representation in Parliament, which plays a critical role in holding the government accountable and providing alternative policies for the electorate.
Tshabangu has been accused of turning CCC into a Zanu-PF-aligned entity, eroding its ability to challenge the ruling party effectively. The party now finds itself divided, with some lawmakers aligning themselves with interim leader Welshman Ncube.
Tshabangu's fortunes took a sharp turn just a month after he led CCC lawmakers on a controversial visit to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's farm in Kwekwe. He hailed the visit as crucial for "nation-building and consensus," while Zanu-PF extended a warm reception, treating him as an ally.
During the visit, Tshabangu appeared to endorse Mnangagwa's contested ED2030 agenda, stating: "If our presence here improves your stay in power and that makes the people of Zimbabwe happy, then let it be."
This statement raised suspicions about his true political affiliations, and although he later attempted to retract his remarks, the damage was already done.
Observers argue that Tshabangu's current predicament was inevitable, as Zanu-PF has a history of using and discarding opposition figures once their utility has expired. With the ruling party now firmly in control of Parliament, Tshabangu may find himself sidelined from the political arena.
Having played a controversial role in reshaping the opposition, Tshabangu must now navigate the consequences of his actions.
_*High court orders forfeiture of US$40k property to recover US$13k stolen funds*_
In a landmark ruling, the High Court of Zimbabwe has ordered the forfeiture of a property valued at US$40,000 to recover US$13,147 stolen by Phillip Tendenedzai from his employer, Optinova Eye Care.
Despite the property being acquired through legitimate means, the court ruled that its equivalent value could be seized to compensate for the untraceable stolen funds.
Tendenedzai, then a driver and messenger at the company, was convicted by a Harare magistrate of theft of trust property in February 2023.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour. An additional two years were suspended on condition he restituted Optinova Eye Care the full US$13 147
The Prosecutor-General applied for the forfeiture of his rights and interest in Stand Number 13 800, Caledonia, under Section 78(2) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, as the stolen money could not be recovered.
High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted the application, allowing the state to forfeit US$13,147 worth of Tendenedzai’s property.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) stated that this decision aligns with international best practices and Zimbabwe’s commitment to combating economic crime and money laundering.
“The court ruled that US$13,147 worth of Phillip’s property can be forfeited, even though the property itself was acquired with legitimate funds.
“This decision aligns with international best practices and Zimbabwe’s commitment to combating economic crime and money laundering,” the NPA noted.
“The ruling reinforces the principle of substitute asset forfeiture to ensure that criminals do not profit from their crimes, even if the proceeds are untraceable. It underscores the importance of holding offenders accountable and compensating victims of economic crimes.
“The NPAZ warns the public that crime does not pay. Where stolen funds cannot be traced the law allows for the forfeiture of legally acquired property of equivalent value.”
Tendenedzai, through his lawyers, had however opposed the application, arguing that he had already served his two-year prison sentence, which had initially been suspended on condition he restitutes his former employer.
He contended that there was no legal basis for confiscating his legally obtained property to recover the stolen money.
Justice Chikowero however dismissed Tendenedzai’s argument, stating: “That cannot be correct.”
“The survey of international legal instruments and comparative jurisprudence reflected in this judgment demonstrates that the object of an order of confiscation of property equivalent in value to the unlocated or unidentified tainted property is rooted in combating serious economic crime.
“As pointed out by the Botswana High Court in Director of Public Prosecution vs Kgori Capital (supra) offenders of the kind of Phillip (Tendenedzai), who view imprisonment as an occupational risk worth taking so long as they can keep and enjoy the profits of crime after serving their sentences, need to know that gains derived from crime will in one way or the other be taken away from them.
“Taking away Phillip’s untainted property equivalent in value to the unlocated tainted property is the answer. That will deter persons from committing serious economic crimes as the prospect of profiting from crime would be illusory.”
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