By Gabriel Manyati
In a dramatic escalation of a bitter post-divorce battle that has gripped Zimbabwe’s high society, the former mother-in-law of flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo has been arrested, her lawyer confirmed on Tuesday.
Tabitha Madzikanda, an executive at a local bank, was taken into custody alongside her daughter Sonja Madzikanda, Chivayo’s ex-wife, who had already spent the night in police detention at Highlands Police Station in Harare.
Both women are due to appear in court on Wednesday as the acrimonious split between Chivayo and Sonja continues to spill into the criminal justice system.
The precise charges remained fluid as investigations unfolded, but Sonja’s lawyer, Rungano Mahuni, indicated that police had cited unauthorised distribution of content and undermining the authority of the president.
“The charges are not yet clear, but the police have mentioned unauthorised distribution of content and undermining the authority of the president. We hope to get the precise charges soon,” Mahuni told ZimLive.
Police sources further revealed that Tabitha faces serious fraud allegations, centred on an alleged attempt to withdraw US$1.4 million from a trust fund established for Chivayo’s children.
She is accused of plotting to remove Chivayo as a signatory in order to access the funds for purchasing land and developing cluster houses.
The trust forms part of the broader financial settlement stemming from the couple’s high-profile separation.
Separately, Chivayo has accused Sonja of breaching a High Court order regulating access to their two minor children, potentially exposing her to contempt of court proceedings.
This latest development comes amid longstanding claims and counter-claims over parental access.
Adding a layer of political intrigue, Chivayo has told police that Tabitha used artificial intelligence to manipulate images and videos, creating the false impression of an earlier meeting between him and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. An image purporting to show the encounter circulated widely online on Monday, shortly after Ramaphosa’s recent visit to Zimbabwe.
Chivayo maintains the material was fabricated to damage Ramaphosa politically and undermine his own business interests in South Africa.
The saga unfolds against the backdrop of Chivayo’s prominent status as a controversial yet influential businessman known for high-profile donations, including ambulances to public hospitals, and his close associations within Zimbabwe’s ruling circles. His divorce from Sonja, an accountant and entrepreneur, has been marked by public disputes over assets, child custody, and multimillion-dollar claims, reflecting the intense personal and financial stakes often involved in the dissolution of elite unions in the country.
As the case heads to court, it highlights the intersection of family law, cyber-related offences, and political sensitivities in modern Zimbabwe.
