Missing environmentalist Nadia Vongai Mabvirakare turned up alive on March 10, 2025. People walking by found her scared and hurt in Dangamvura, Mutare. Rights activist Abigail Mupambi shared this news Tuesday. Mabvirakare had vanished five days earlier during her work on a big tree project.
Her environmental plan focused on planting fruit trees at Chemapango Secondary School in Murewa. The Green Rebirth Trust program aimed to grow more than a million trees. Money problems pushed Mabvirakare to ask powerful people for help. She first talked to Zanu PF leader Farai Marapira about funding.
Marapira promised support from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa but changed his mind. He later connected her with Zanu PF politician Batsirai Matiza instead. Matiza put over $20,000 into the growing project. When he saw how much money the project might make, Matiza reportedly tried to grab control.
Mabvirakare rushed to file papers with the High Court to block him. Matiza asked to settle things privately but never showed up for planned meetings. He sent vague apologies and set new dates he skipped. She disappeared the same day as their rescheduled meeting about the settlement.
Mupambi said unknown people had watched Mabvirakare and tracked her moves before she vanished. Her disappearance stalled both the tree project and her court case. Rescuers found her more than 100 kilometers from her Murewa home. They rushed her to a private Harare hospital for treatment of physical and mental injuries.
During a Tuesday press event, Mupambi blamed Matiza for arranging the kidnapping. She pointed out that Matiza had never visited the project before Mabvirakare disappeared. Then, suddenly, he showed up, taking pictures and posting happy messages online. He told workers not to worry because he would work with them directly.
Matiza even contacted suppliers about unpaid bills and tried to take charge. He told everyone Mabvirakare would never come back. The victim's family reported the crime at Makoni Police Station in Chitungwiza. They fear government hospital tests might hide evidence of torture or drugging during her captivity.
Police want tests done at Parirenyatwa Hospital, but the family wants independent doctors. This case has scared many Zimbabweans who see it as part of increasing political violence against women. It reminds people of CCC member Moreblessing Ali, who was kidnapped and killed in 2023 allegedly by a Zanu PF member.
Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi claimed Tuesday that Mabvirakare faces theft charges. He called reports about her abduction and torture misleading. Police say she stole money meant for a greenhouse project. They claim she received $15,200 cash from the Matiza Foundation but used it herself instead of paying for materials.
The police statement says officers looked for her at her Chitungwiza home on March 5. Her son told them she was away. They say she remains under police guard at the hospital. They continue investigating both the theft accusation and her family's claims about what happened.
Her environmental plan focused on planting fruit trees at Chemapango Secondary School in Murewa. The Green Rebirth Trust program aimed to grow more than a million trees. Money problems pushed Mabvirakare to ask powerful people for help. She first talked to Zanu PF leader Farai Marapira about funding.
Marapira promised support from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa but changed his mind. He later connected her with Zanu PF politician Batsirai Matiza instead. Matiza put over $20,000 into the growing project. When he saw how much money the project might make, Matiza reportedly tried to grab control.
Mabvirakare rushed to file papers with the High Court to block him. Matiza asked to settle things privately but never showed up for planned meetings. He sent vague apologies and set new dates he skipped. She disappeared the same day as their rescheduled meeting about the settlement.
Mupambi said unknown people had watched Mabvirakare and tracked her moves before she vanished. Her disappearance stalled both the tree project and her court case. Rescuers found her more than 100 kilometers from her Murewa home. They rushed her to a private Harare hospital for treatment of physical and mental injuries.
During a Tuesday press event, Mupambi blamed Matiza for arranging the kidnapping. She pointed out that Matiza had never visited the project before Mabvirakare disappeared. Then, suddenly, he showed up, taking pictures and posting happy messages online. He told workers not to worry because he would work with them directly.
Matiza even contacted suppliers about unpaid bills and tried to take charge. He told everyone Mabvirakare would never come back. The victim's family reported the crime at Makoni Police Station in Chitungwiza. They fear government hospital tests might hide evidence of torture or drugging during her captivity.
Police want tests done at Parirenyatwa Hospital, but the family wants independent doctors. This case has scared many Zimbabweans who see it as part of increasing political violence against women. It reminds people of CCC member Moreblessing Ali, who was kidnapped and killed in 2023 allegedly by a Zanu PF member.
Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi claimed Tuesday that Mabvirakare faces theft charges. He called reports about her abduction and torture misleading. Police say she stole money meant for a greenhouse project. They claim she received $15,200 cash from the Matiza Foundation but used it herself instead of paying for materials.
The police statement says officers looked for her at her Chitungwiza home on March 5. Her son told them she was away. They say she remains under police guard at the hospital. They continue investigating both the theft accusation and her family's claims about what happened.
