WASHINGTON - Divorce court documents filed by Bona Mugabe Chikore’s estranged husband, Simba Chikore, have revealed that the two have almost two dozen farms and over 25 upmarket houses and a mansion in Dubai worth billions of dollars.
The documents indicate that the mansion in Dubai is worth millions of dollars. Chikore further accused Bona, the daughter of the late former President Robert Mugabe, of walking away from the marriage with cash amounting to US$760,000.
Most of the properties listed in the court documents are in upmarket places in Harare. They include a couple of houses in Helesnvale, at least 10 along the famous gated Carrick Creagh Road and in other suburbs.
According to ZimLive, an online publication, Bona and Simba Chikore say they have lost love and affection for each other and have been living apart for more than nine months.
She wants to have full custody of their three children and US$2,700 maintenance per month for each kid. But Chikore wants the couple to share property before the courts make a decision on the custody of the minors.
Bona’s lawyer, Fungai Chimwamurombe, told VOA Studio 7 that the properties in the court papers were legitimate. Simba Chikore’s attorney, Rogers Matsikidze, also confirmed the legitimacy of the properties. Chimwamurombe says his client is disputing the value of the properties.
Citizens Coalition for Change’s Ellen Shiriyedenga says the amount of wealth revealed in the divorce case is an indication of rampant corruption in Zimbabwe and the skewed manner in which land was grabbed from white commercial farmers and parceled out to Zanu PF sympathizers and supporters.
Shiriyedenga says is seems that the late president was corrupt as he allowed his daughter and son-in-law to abuse the land reform scheme to amass a large number of farms.
Zanu PF Central Committee member, Joseph Tshuma, concurred, noting that the ruling party does not encourage its members to grab so many farms for their own benefit.
“They (Bona and Simba) have to carry their own cross … and face the law if they broke it while accumulating so much wealth.”