Wicknell Chivayo, a Zimbabwean businessman of Eswatini origin, had a high-profile marriage to Sonja Louise Madzikanda that ended in a messy dispute. The couple, who married in 2017, had two children together and were embroiled in a court battle over assets and child custody. Madzikanda, 34, filed a case against Chivayo, claiming Sh3.2 billion, monthly maintenance of Sh5.1 million, and Sh130 million annually for holidays and leisure.
The dispute escalated, with Madzikanda seeking full custody of their children and limiting Chivayo's access to them. Chivayo responded with an urgent court application, claiming Madzikanda was denying him access to their children despite his efforts to resolve the matter amicably. The couple's marriage was marked by allegations of infidelity, emotional abuse, and abandonment, according to Madzikanda's court statement.
In April, the High Court of Zimbabwe approved an agreement between the two, where Chivayo agreed to pay Sh649 million for the maintenance and welfare of their children. Of this amount, Sh285 million had already been paid, with the remaining Sh363 million due within 30 days. The funds were to be invested in a bank account controlled by Madzikanda, with the goal of generating returns to support their children's needs in the future.
However, the agreement did not resolve the broader dispute over Chivayo's assets. Madzikanda claimed ownership of several properties, including houses in Zimbabwe and South Africa, luxury vehicles, and interests in various businesses associated with Chivayo. The listed assets included a Rolls-Royce Spectre, two Rolls-Royce Ghosts, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Range Rover, and a Mercedes-Benz Maybach.
The court-approved agreement granted Madzikanda control of the children, with Chivayo allowed to spend one full week with them each month, as well as weekends and public holidays on an alternating basis. Chivayo was required to be present in person during his allocated time and not delegate his parental duties to others. The dispute over the validity of their traditional marriage also created tension.
Chivayo and his second wife died in a helicopter accident on Wednesday night, leaving behind a complex and disputed inheritance. Madzikanda has not issued a public statement on Chivayo's death. Prior to the dispute, Madzikanda worked as an accountant in Harare and had her own business ventures.
The case had seen several developments, including Chivayo's attempt to remove the claims of assets from the case in June 2026, which was rejected by the High Court. Judge Fatima Maxwell ruled that Chivayo had already agreed to pay Madzikanda Sh649 million and that the agreement left the issue of their divorce to be determined in the main case.
Key points
- Wicknell Chivayo's marriage to Sonja Louise Madzikanda ended in a dispute over assets and child custody.
- The couple's traditional marriage was not registered, which became a point of contention in the dispute.
- Chivayo and his second wife died in a helicopter accident, leaving behind a complex inheritance.
