Chivhayo asks court to nullify divorce proceedings with former wife Sonja
Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has gone to the High Court asking for his estranged wife Sonja Madzikanda’s divorce case to be thrown out. He says their traditional marriage already ended in 2024 after he paid “gupuro,” a customary divorce token in Shona culture, and believes there is no reason for the divorce case to continue.
The dispute has now spread from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Sonja managed to get a South African court order that froze bank accounts linked to Chivayo and stopped a private jet connected to him from flying. She says the assets could form part of property that should be shared in the divorce settlement.
Chivayo argues that the freezing order is seriously hurting his businesses. He says companies linked to him can no longer operate properly, pay workers, pay rent, taxes, or meet other business obligations because the accounts are frozen. He also says the grounding of the private jet is damaging his business activities because the aircraft is used for work and travel.
Sonja had filed a case in Zimbabwe asking the court to officially end the marriage, or alternatively recognise their relationship as a civil partnership. She is also seeking maintenance and a share of assets. Chivayo says these claims are unnecessary and should be dismissed because, according to him, the marriage had already ended traditionally. He also argues that the marriage was never properly registered under Zimbabwean law.
The legal fight is also affecting the couple’s children. Earlier this year, the couple agreed in court that the children would mainly stay with Sonja, while Chivayo would pay US$5 million for their upkeep, including US$2.8 million within 30 days. Chivayo now says the frozen accounts make it difficult for him to pay this money, which could put him in trouble with the court and negatively affect the children.
The case is still ongoing, and the court has not yet decided whether Chivayo’s urgent application to stop the divorce proceedings will succeed.
