CURIOUS US$930k FRAUD: Accused deny allegations; say Chiwenga ‘very happy with work we did’

By Crime & Courts Correspondent

THE couple accused of fleecing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Miniyothabo, of close to US$1 million has denied the allegations, with sources alleging a case of ‘buyer’s remorse’ on the part of the complainant.

Annavestor Mudiwa (33) and Gray Mudiwa (44) appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei for bail hearing Thursday following their arrest.

The case was postponed to Monday.

According to papers before the court, Chiwenga’s wife is alleging that a company owned by the couple, Gray Homes Construction Company, defrauded her of about US$930,000 after failing to complete projects that included a residential property, a warehouse and a shopping mall.

However, speaking in court Friday, Annavester said she had a very close relationship with Chiwenga, adding that she is the one who planned the vice president’s wedding last December.

“The complainant gave us six projects,” she explained.

“We completed the first three; that is the warehouse at Chivaraidze Farm in Goromonzi, a house in Milton Park and another one in Borrowdale.

“All the three projects are valued at US$1 million; that is why the complainant gave us three more projects to carry out. It was because she was very happy with the work we had done.’

The investigating officer in the case, Cain Machingami, opposed bail, arguing that the couple had tried to flee the country before being arrested at Beitbridge Border Post.

“The accused ran away from (police) on august 27 and they were arrested on August 28 at the border (between Zimbabwe and South Africa) trying to run away,” he said.

“From my preliminary investigations, I have a reasonable suspicion that the accused indeed committed the offence and that is why they were running away from the police.’

Responding, Annavester, denied the imputation, telling the court that they were traveling to South Africa for a business meeting that had been pre-scheduled for August 29.

She further told the magistrate that their failure to complete the projects was due to the country’s currency switch from the Zimbabwe Dollar to the ZiG as well as a shortage of cement experienced last year.

Sources close to the couple also told ZimGazette.com that this was a case of buyer’s remorse after a rival contractor gave Chiwenga a cheaper quotation for the same projects after she had already paid Gray Homes Construction Company.

“Why would she (Chiwenga) continue to contract the same company on new projects, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars, if she had been defrauded on the previous job?” Asked our source who did not want to be identified.

According to prosecutors, Chiwenga contracted Gray Homes to build a double story house, a cottage and a boundary wall in March 2023, paying them US$560,000

“After receiving the funds, the accused persons diverted them to their own use, did not complete the project, leading the complainant to suffer a prejudice of US$389,100,” reads the State’s case.

Again, in June 2023, Chiwenga would contract the same company to build a warehouse at Chivaraidze Farm in Goromonzi, paying about Us$550,000.

Prosecutors claim the contractor again failed to complete the project and converted funds to their own use, resulting in Chiwenga losing Us$390,000.

On the third count, Chiwenga is said to have again contracted Gray Homes to build a shopping mall at Silalatshani Business Centre in Filabusi, paying the company US$158,000.

“After receiving the funds, the accused persons diverted funds worth US$151,000 to their own use,” reads the court papers.