State seizes $95,000 property from fugitive ex-bank manager in money laundering case

ZIMSPHERE

HARARE – The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has confiscated a property worth USD$95,000 in Arlington from Nyasha Dumbu, the former Assistant Finance Manager at NMB's Borrowdale branch, following a High Court ruling that the property was procured with illicit funds.

Prosecutor General Loice Matanda-Moyo

The seizure came after the Prosecutor General Hon Loyce Matanda-Moyo, through the NPAZ Asset Forfeiture Unit, sought a civil forfeiture order against the property. 

Between January and April 2021, Dumbu and Arthur Munhuuripi, an accounts clerk, were found to have conspired to embezzle ZWL $23,425,701.96 from the bank. 

In February 2021, Dumbu and his wife, Heather Ruvimbo, purchased the Arlington property. However, when the theft was discovered in April, Munhuuripi was arrested, while Dumbu fled the country and is currently a fugitive.

In a bid to prevent the forfeiture of the property, Heather Ruvimbo Dumbu claimed rightful ownership of the property in the High Court, stating that it was purchased entirely with her own funds, partly from a loan and partly from her investments.

However, the High Court ruled that the timing of the property purchase was suspiciously close to the bank theft and determined that Heather Dumbu's evidence was misleading. 

The court concluded that the Arlington property was acquired through illicit means, specifically money laundering.