Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi Chiwenga, wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, was reportedly defrauded of US$930,000 by a Harare-based construction company.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200031615/chiwengas-wife-miniyothabo-duped-us1m">NewsDay</a>, Gray Homes Construction Company, owned by a local couple, faced three counts of fraud on Thursday, August 29, in the Harare Magistrates Court.
The charges stem from their failure to fulfil a contract to build Baloyi Chiwenga’s double-storey house.
The company, represented by Gray and Annavestah Mudiwa, appeared before Magistrate Donald Ndirowei.
Court records indicate that the complainant is Miniyothabo Francisca Baloyi Chiwenga, 48, a colonel in the Zimbabwe National Army.
Prosecutor Tafara Chirambira alleged that in 2023, the couple deceived Chiwenga into believing they could construct a double-storey house, a cottage, and a perimeter wall.
They falsely claimed they could complete the project in 90 days, leading Chiwenga to pay US$560,000.
However, after receiving the funds, the couple allegedly misappropriated a portion for personal use and failed to complete the project, resulting in a loss of US$389,100 for Chiwenga.
In another incident in 2023, the couple misled Chiwenga about their ability to construct a warehouse at Chivaraidze Farm in Goromonzi.
Acting on this misrepresentation, she paid them US$550,000, but they failed to deliver, allegedly squandering US$390,000.
In September 2023, they convinced Chiwenga they could build a shopping mall at the Silalatshani Business Centre in Filabusi, for which she paid US$158,000. The court heard that the couple diverted US$151,000 from this project.
The case has been remanded until this Friday for a bail application.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Vice-President Chiwenga's wife, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi Chiwenga, was tricked out of almost $1 million by a construction company in Zimbabwe. The company promised to build her a house, a cottage, a warehouse, and a shopping mall but did not deliver. They took her money and used it for themselves instead of completing the projects. Now, the company owners are facing fraud charges in court. The case is ongoing, and the court will decide what happens next.

VP Chiwenga's Wife A Victim Of US$1 Million Fraud

President Emmerson Mnangagwa inadvertently cast Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as a cheat when he told guests at the latter’s wedding with new wife Miniyothabo Baloyi on 23 December the two were already involved in a love relationship when Chiwenga was still married to Marry Mubaiwa, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/bedroom-coup-mnangagwa-spills-the-beans-reveals-chiwenga-cheated-on-marry-mubaiwa/">ZimLive</a>.
Mnangagwa was the Minister of Defence from 2009 until 2013, a time when Chiwenga had just married Mubaiwa.
The now-divorced couple, with three children from the abandoned union, was married from 2011 to 2019. Said Mnangagwa:
<blockquote>
I know too much about these two since my time as their Defence Minister.
I for one know too much about the two people but this is not the platform to say it all.
The two have travelled a long journey together. My young brother (Chiwenga) may not know that I knew what was happening even when I was the Minister of Defence.
</blockquote>
Chiwenga (67), a former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, exchanged marriage vows with Colonel Baloyi at a high-profile ceremony presided over by the Catholic Church at St Gerard’s Catholic Church in Borrowdale, Harare on Saturday.
Some reports suggest Chiwenga is not in his third marriage inside 12 years. The retired army General had been married to Jocelyn Jacobsen (née Mauchaza) with the couple divorcing in 2012. Chiwenga had no children from his marriage to Jacobsen.
Chiwenga reportedly married Mubaiwa, a former model, while still married to Jacobsen.
Posting on X, Marry claimed that Chiwenga and Baloyi were in a relationship throughout the subsistence of their union. She wrote:
<blockquote>
Chiwenga was in a relationship with Minnie throughout the subsistence of our marriage and l was made to believe she was a Chinese student.
</blockquote>
Chiwenga’s and Baloyi’s 23 December wedding was also attended by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and family, former First Lady Grace Mugabe, VP Kembo Mohadi, former VP Phelekezela Mphoko and wife, cabinet ministers, businessman Kuda Tagwirei, controversial socialite and businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, among others.
Army generals from South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Namibia formed Chiwenga’s bridal team.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a reception at Venue Umwinzii, an expensive wedding venue located in Umwinsidale Harare.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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