By Fanuel Chinowaita
HARARE – The High Court has ordered the permanent forfeiture of a premium residential property in Mandara and a Toyota Hilux vehicle to the State, ruling they were purchased with the proceeds of crime.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) secured the civil forfeiture order against former telecommunications employee Daniel Kalira and four other respondents. Justice Chikowero granted the application under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.
The court found that Kalira used illicit funds obtained through a fraud scheme to acquire the assets for family members. He purchased a residential stand in Harare’s Mandara suburb, valued at US$52,000**, for his grandmother. He also bought a **Toyota Hilux worth US$32,000 for the mother of his child.
Justice Chikowero stated the assets were demonstrably acquired through criminal proceeds, leading to the forfeiture order. The respondents have been given seven days to facilitate the legal transfer of the property and vehicle to the State.
This case represents a significant application of civil asset forfeiture laws, which allow the State to seize property derived from criminal activity.