In a landmark ruling, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) CEO Frank Chitukutuku has been ordered to hand over his vast empire of luxury assets to the State. The High Court’s decision comes after Chitukutuku failed to provide a convincing explanation for his alleged US$30 million wealth, which mysteriously materialized during his tenure as a public official.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) had been scratching its head, wondering how Chitukutuku, on a modest public servant’s salary, managed to accumulate a fleet of luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The commission suspected that Chitukutuku’s wealth might have been fueled by a secret talent for high-stakes poker or underground sheep farming. However, the courts weren’t buying it.
The forfeited assets include multiple high-end properties, a collection of luxury vehicles, and shares in local companies. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Chitukutuku, who now faces the prospect of trading in his Range Rover for a sturdy bicycle.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit celebrated the ruling, stating that it sends a strong message to corrupt officials: “You can’t take the cash and live the high life on the taxpayers’ dime.”
As the State takes control of the assets, one can’t help but wonder what Chitukutuku’s next move will be. Perhaps he’ll start a YouTube channel, sharing his expertise on “How to Live Large on a Public Servant’s Salary”?
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