Law & Justice
Ex‑wife Seeks $25 Million Settlement From Zimbabwe Tycoon Before His 2026 Helicopter Crash
Court documents filed in 2024 show that Sonja Louise Madzikanda, the former wife of Zimbabwe businessman Wicknell Chivayo, was pursuing a large divorce settlement before his death. Madzikanda sought a US$25 million lump‑sum payment, US$40,000 (KSh 5.1 million) in monthly spousal maintenance, and US$1 million (KSh 130 million) annually for holidays and entertainment. She also demanded full custody of their two minor children, limited visitation rights for Chivayo, and ownership of several high‑end properties in Gletwyn, Ballantyne Park, and a luxury apartment in Sandton, Johannesburg, as well as a fleet of seven luxury vehicles including three Rolls‑Royces, a Mercedes‑Benz Maybach, a Range Rover and a Lexus SUV. Madzikanda’s claims were based on a customary law union entered into in July 2017, supported by the payment of lobola. Chivayo’s lawyers at Mpofu Mazhata Chambers described the claims as “frivolous and vexatious,” arguing that an unregistered customary law marriage has no legal weight for spousal maintenance or asset division and that many of the properties were held in a family trust for their children.
In April 2026 the High Court approved a consent arrangement in which Chivayo agreed to pay US$5 million (KSh 649 million) for the maintenance and investment of funds set aside for the children. US$2.2 million (KSh 285 million) had already been transferred, with the remaining US$2.8 million (KSh 363 million) due within 30 days. In June 2026 Chivayo attempted to have Madzikanda’s broader property and asset claims dismissed, but the High Court dismissed the application and ordered him to pay costs. The wider US$25 million claim remained unresolved when Chivayo died.
Chivayo perished in a helicopter crash in Marondera on 30 September 2026, along with his wife Lucy Muteke and three others. On 4 November, ZBC News and The Herald reported that Madzikanda had been appointed co‑executrix of Chivayo’s estate, together with his sister Esther Chivayo. The two women will jointly manage the inventory of assets, settle outstanding debts, and oversee the eventual distribution of the estate, which is believed to be worth millions of dollars.
Chivayo’s two children were born during his marriage to Sonja. A photograph of his young son John surfaced on social media two weeks after the tycoon’s death. Sonja delivered an emotional message of forgiveness and love at his funeral, urging the family to put the children first. Source: TUKO.co.ke