Mugabe’s ‘secret son’ digs in over estate

A man claiming be former president Robert Mugabe’s son says he will not give up despite setbacks in his legal battles to get a share of the late ruler’s estate.

Tonderai has returned to the High Court seeking to be pardoned for failing to approach the courts to review Mugabe’s estate within the prescribed time.

He cited the late ruler’s daughter Bona Mugabe who is the executor of the estate and the master of the High Court as the respondents in his application for condonation.

He is seeking a declaration for the re-opening of Mugabe’s estate so that he can have a share of his wealth as his son.

Tonderai admitted that he was supposed to lodge the court application for review within 30 days after the date of the mster’s decision according to section 52 of the Administration of Estates Act.

He argued that Mugabe’s relatives were ready to corroborate his story.

“There is nowhere I can lawfully inherit from his estate if the estate remains closed,” Tonderai submitted.

“Elders from the Mugabe clan can testify that I am not a foreigner to the Mugabe family.”

He said Bona was far younger than him to put a sledge hammer on his right to have a share of Mugabe’s estate.

“If the estate is re-opened and evidence is led from the elders in the clan, it will be crystal clear that I am the son of the late Robert Mugabe beyond any reasonable doubt,” Tonderai said.

“As fully appears from the draft court application for review, I have good prospects of success and the court is likely to grant the order which I am seeking thereto.”

He said it is in the interest of justice that the case be heard on merit and not technicalities.

“I am not driven by the desire to benefit from the late Robert Mugabe’s wealth, but I should know my parentage, in particular, my paternal lineage as a man,” he submitted.

“I beg for indulgence from the court to be allowed to be heard before whatever decision is made about where l belong.

“This case is more important to me than anything else, which can be contemplated.

“Every man wants to be with his people and take pride in being identified as such.

“There is no wealth that can buy self-esteem associated with being with your people.”

Tonderai said he was born on April 20, 1977 in Chimoio, Mozambique.

He said Mugabe was in a relationship with his late mother Hilda Maeka.

According to Tonderai, Mugabe and Maeka went their separate ways after the bombing of Chimoio with the late president thinking that she had passed away.

Tonderai said his parents met in Zimbabwe after independence, and they would communicate.

He said Mugabe died before he was formally introduced to the first family.

Tonderai said the registrar of birth and death requested for DNA tests and insisted that he goes with a family member of Mugabe lineage.

DNA tests confirmed 99,997871% probability of relationship with the Mugabes, according to court records

Tonderai said efforts to reach out to Bona have been fruitless.

In his demands, Tonderai wants Mugabe’s estate re-opened.

The matter is pending before High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi.

Mugabe died in September 2019 in Singapore.

He married Grace Mugabe in 1996 four years after the death of his official first wife, Sally. Standard