By Staff Reporter
Harare- Former Gokwe-Nembudziya, legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena, has successfully reclaimed his impounded luxury vehicles and haulage trucks following a High Court ruling that ordered the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Prosecutor General (PG) to release the assets.
Despite the court’s earlier decision in Wadyajena’s favor, ZACC had delayed the release of his property, claiming that ongoing investigations warranted further action.
However, the recent judgment has forced the authorities to comply.
Wadyajena, once perceived as president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue eyed boy, has been embroiled in legal battles over the seizure of his assets.
While his arrest was widely perceived as politically motivated, the state ultimately failed to produce sufficient evidence to link him to the alleged crimes.
The High Court’s Writ of Judgment explicitly instructed ZACC and the PG to execute the order for the release of Wadyajena’s assets.
“The applicants are granted leave to execute the judgment HH 165/24 granted in case number HCH 4400/23 pending the determination of appeal numbers SC 250/24 and SC 254/24.
“The first and second respondents pay costs of the application jointly and severally the
one paying the other to be absolved,” read the judgment.
The High Court also awarded costs to the applicant.
ZACC had initially confiscated the property under the suspicion of ill-gotten wealth.
However, Wadyajena was subsequently removed from remand due to a lack of evidence.
He was arrested alongside former Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) officials, Pius Manamike and Maxmore Njanji, who were also later released.
Wadjajena, Manamike and Njanji faced fraud and money laundering charges involving US$5 million.
ZACC seized several of Wadyajena’s assets,including 23 haulage trucks, a Lamborghini SUV, and a BMW X6M vehicle through a warrant of search and seizure in terms of Section 49(b) ARWS 50(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [Chapter 9:07],
Prior to the High Court ruling ZACC and NPA have been dragging feet to release the luxury vehicles and the 23 haulage trucks citing various reasons.