The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) is a specialized division of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPAZ)
established under Chapter 27A (4) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act. The AFU plays a crucial role in
combating financial crime by targeting the proceeds of criminal activity.
Collaboration and Cooperation
The AFU works closely with various Government Agencies, including:
Zimbabwe Republic Police
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
Financial Intelligence Unit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Other relevant supervisory, regulatory, and investigative authorities
This collaboration enables the AFU to effectively trace, identify, recover, seize, or confiscate proceeds of crime.
International Cooperation
The AFU also co-operates through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade with other countries,
foreign agencies, investigative authorities, and international organizations to target criminal assets both
domestically and internationally. This includes:
Facilitating mutual legal assistance requests
Processing extradition requests
Combating terrorism and prosecuting related offences
Tracing, identifying, recovering, seizing, or confiscating crime proceeds locally or internationally
Key Functions
Asset Identification and Tracing: Identifying and tracking assets believed to be derived from criminal activity.
Asset Seizure and Confiscation: Obtaining court orders to seize and confiscate assets linked to criminal proceeds.
International Cooperation: Collaborating with foreign agencies to recover assets transferred across borders.
Anti-Terrorism: Assisting in the investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related offences.
By effectively targeting the financial resources of criminals, the AFU contributes to crime prevention and
deterrence while recovering assets for public benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) was created to enable the unlawful proceeds of all serious crimes and terrorist acts to be identified, traced, frozen, seized and eventually confiscated.
In criminal law-based forfeiture, the State seizes property after obtaining a conviction.
Civil forfeiture does not require a criminal charge or conviction.
All seized money is deposited into the Recovered Asset Fund at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Other assets such as vehicles and houses are lodged with the Asset Management Unit.
Money laundering is the illegal process of making large amounts of money from criminal conduct appear legitimate.
The AFU provides mutual legal assistance and initiates legal action to trace, identify, freeze, and confiscate criminal proceeds.
