The long-running legal dispute between businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his estranged partner Sonja Madzikanda took a dramatic turn on Monday after Madzikanda announced that the High Court had ruled that the pair were never legally married.
Although the court’s written judgment had not been released at the time of publication, Madzikanda revealed the outcome in a video posted on her Instagram page, describing the ruling as the culmination of a difficult and emotional legal battle.
“Today, the judgment was made final. The court decided that I have never been married … but that’s okay,” she said.
The judgment follows months of litigation between the former couple, whose dispute has drawn significant public attention due to the high-profile nature of the parties involved and the substantial assets at the centre of the case.
Chivayo had argued before the High Court that any customary union that may have existed between the two had effectively ended in 2024 and that Madzikanda’s claims for spousal maintenance, dissolution of marriage and a share of assets lacked a legal foundation.
The dispute also spilled into South Africa earlier this year when Madzikanda successfully obtained an anti-dissipation order aimed at preserving assets allegedly linked to Chivayo and several associated companies. The order reportedly affected a number of assets, including restrictions involving a private jet.
Reacting to the outcome, Madzikanda said she intended to share her personal experiences publicly in an effort to warn other women about the potential legal consequences of relationships that may not be formally recognised.
“My hope is to warn women: don’t do it. Don’t put yourself through this nonsense just to be told it never existed,” she said.
She questioned how a relationship involving children, family participation and traditional ceremonies could ultimately be declared legally nonexistent.
“Why have the kids? Why involve your relatives? Why have the ceremonies? Why do all of that when someone can later say it never happened?” she asked.
Madzikanda described the ruling as a setback for customary relationships and expressed concern that the decision could have broader implications for other women in similar circumstances.
“There are women in relationships who could end up facing the same judgment because any judgment made in the courts can be referenced in future cases,” she said.
She further characterised the outcome as “a sad day for our culture and our history.”
The matter was heard by Amy Tsanga, although the court had not yet published the official written judgment by the time of publication.
Legal analysts are expected to closely examine the ruling once the written reasons are released, particularly given the potential implications for customary unions, property rights and maintenance claims under Zimbabwean law.
For now, the decision marks a significant development in one of Zimbabwe’s most closely watched domestic legal disputes, while leaving many questions unanswered until the full judgment becomes available.
Source – NewZimbabwe
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