ZIMSPHERE
HARARE – A high-stakes legal battle involving environmentalist Nadia Mabvirakare and businessman Batsirai Matiza has taken a dramatic turn, revealing allegations of judicial manipulation and personal vendettas. The case, which has drawn national and international attention, underscores the troubling dynamics of power and corruption in Zimbabwe.
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| Nadia Mabvirakare |
On 19 March 2025, the court heard that Mabvirakare, the founder of the Green Rebirth agro-nursery project, is facing a criminal charge of Theft of Trust Property. This charge, however, appears to stem from a commercial dispute rather than criminal misconduct, raising concerns about the weaponization of the judiciary system to target vulnerable individuals.
Mabvirakare’s ordeal began on 11 March 2025, when she was discovered dumped in the plantations of Mutare after a week-long abduction. Her disappearance brought to light the intense interest of powerful figures in her five-year dream project, Green Rebirth. The project, aimed at environmental sustainability, is now under threat of being hijacked by Matiza, who claims to be a financing partner.
Prominent lawyer Douglas Mwonzora, representing Mabvirakare, exposed glaring weaknesses in the state’s case during court proceedings. He highlighted the malicious intent behind the criminal charge, arguing that it was a calculated move to suppress Mabvirakare and seize control of the lucrative project.
“It is unfair and misguided for the state to allege a Theft of Trust Property case on an individual who received the said amount on the basis of a partnership between Matiza Trust and Green Rebirth,” Mwonzora told the court. He emphasized that Mabvirakare acted on behalf of the Green Rebirth Trust, a fact known to all parties involved, including state witnesses.
State witness IO Shenje admitted under cross-examination that he was aware of the partnership between Mabvirakare and Matiza but had not read the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing their agreement.
Shenje also conceded that no audit had been conducted to determine whether funds were misused, relying solely on Matiza’s complaint to initiate the criminal charge.
Mwonzora questioned the haste with which the charge was brought, pointing out the lack of prior investigation into the partnership’s financial arrangements.
“Why would an investigator desperately rush to effect a charge without prior investigations on the key tenets suggesting a particular charge?” he asked.
The lawyer further argued that the criminal charge was orchestrated by Matiza to gain full control of the Green Rebirth project.
“This criminal charge was cooked up by Matiza against his fellow partner to effectively suppress one partner in a potentially commercial dispute,” Mwonzora stated. He urged the court to avoid being used as an instrument to choke Mabvirakare, especially since Matiza joined her project, not the other way around.
The case has exposed the vulnerability of individuals like Mabvirakare to systemic corruption and the misuse of power. By creating an urgent criminal charge against her, Matiza and his associates have positioned themselves to take over the million-dollar project, leveraging the justice system to their advantage.
Mwonzora also criticized the state witnesses for their ignorance of key issues and their eagerness to act on a case that falls outside criminal jurisdiction.
“Theft of Trust Property suggests that an individual would have used money belonging to a third party for personal use. In this case, Mabvirakare received $15,200 as Batsirai’s contribution to the partnership and for project operations. How then can this contribution be turned into theft?” he argued.
The court heard that Matiza could have lodged an official complaint with Green Rebirth or requested an audit if he had genuine grievances, but he chose instead to pursue criminal charges. This has raised concerns about the broader implications of using the judiciary system for personal gain, particularly in cases involving powerful individuals and weaker targets.
The case has sparked widespread calls for justice, with women’s groups expressing solidarity with Mabvirakare, who they see as a model environmentalist facing persecution.
The weaponization of the justice system in this case highlights the enormous challenges of combating corruption and ensuring fairness in Zimbabwe’s legal framework.
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