Gray Homes couple finally granted bail after languishing in jail for 4 months as Chiwenga withdraws US$1 million case

HARARE – Annavestah and Gray Mudiwa, the directors of Gray Homes Construction, have been granted bail after spending four months in custody.

The couple, facing seven counts of fraud, were released on US$500 bail each by Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa. As part of their bail conditions, they are required to surrender their passports, report weekly to CID, and remain at their provided addresses.

The couple’s legal battles took a turn as the State withdrew criminal charges against them in a separate case involving Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga. The Mudiwas had been accused of defrauding Baloyi-Chiwenga of nearly US$1 million by failing to complete construction projects despite receiving payment.

The charges in the Chiwenga case were withdrawn before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei, with no reasons provided in court. The State had alleged that in March 2023, the couple misrepresented their ability to construct a double-storey house, a cottage, and a precast wall for Baloyi-Chiwenga within 90 days, leading her to pay them US$560,000. However, the State claimed the Mudiwas diverted the funds and did not complete the project, prejudicing Baloyi-Chiwenga of US$389,100.

Similar allegations were made regarding the construction of a warehouse at Chivaraidze Farm in Goromonzi, where Baloyi-Chiwenga allegedly paid the couple US$550,000, with US$390,000 allegedly being diverted. A third count involved the construction of a shopping mall at Silalatshani Business Centre in Filabusi, where the Mudiwas allegedly received US$158,000 but diverted US$151,000, leading to a total loss of US$151,000 for Baloyi-Chiwenga. The state alleged that nothing was recovered in any of these cases.

Meanwhile, the Mudiwas still face seven separate fraud charges. One of the complainants is Creative Itel (Pvt) Ltd, represented by Shalome Chigovanyika. The allegations are that in September last year, Annavestah ordered 15 Itel 2160 phones valued at US$144 each, 480 Itel 5606 phones valued at US$5856, 84 Itel A04 valued at US$5292, 80 Itel A18 phones valued at US$4000, 42 Itel P40 phones valued at US$4284, eight Samsung A03 core phones valued at US$648, and eight Samsung A04 phones valued at US$736.

She allegedly misrepresented that the phones were meant for Government officials, knowing she had no such agreement. She promised to settle the bill in 21 days but allegedly failed to do so.

Another complainant, Overexport Southern Africa (Pvt) Ltd, represented by Blessed Priscilla Soko, alleges that between February and September last year, Annavestah duped them into believing she would pay for hardware goods worth US$79,000 within 30 days. After dispatching the goods, Annavestah allegedly only paid US$39,860 and became evasive.

In a third count, Osborn Tinokura Kudyanyemba of Collare Investments alleges that Annavestah misrepresented herself as running a viable hardware shop to obtain electric switches, sockets, display units, chandelier lights, and water dispensers valued at US$31,723. She promised to settle the bill within 30 days but allegedly became evasive, prompting Kudyanyemba to file a police report.