The estranged wife of a flamboyant Zimbabwe-based entrepreneur is worried that he could hide assets that include a fleet cars and a unit at the luxury Sandton hotel, Davinci, even before their division of estate is finalised.
The woman lodged an interdict application at the Pretoria high court on January 15, where she argues that her husband may potentially transfer all his known assets to third parties.
The court subsequently granted an order on March 23 prohibiting the businessman, with close ties to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, from dissolving his known assets that are held under his four companies based in South Africa.
The woman, who has been married to the businessman since 2017, claims she has instituted similar action in Zimbabwe, but she was told her husband had allegedly captured all the judges.
She further stated in her application that the South African courts were her ultimate recourse to a fair division of estate process.
“We have assets in this country which include money held in bank accounts and property. My fear that (he) will dissipate the assets is heightened by the mere fact that he was audacious enough to make it known to my mother that he was in control of the members of the court and that nothing went past him.
He states that he has already paid lawyers $60,000 (R1m) and he is willing to pay more to win. He has never lost a court case.
“My understanding of this message clothed in a show of unrestricted access to official information means when he feels like it, he will do anything to show to me that the courts cannot protect me,” read her affidavit.
She said her husband has refused her settlement proposal of R25m, saying the figure would imply to the public that he has a lot of money.
“... His tweets make it known to the public how much he has donated or given away in the excess of $70m (R1bn),” read her affidavit.
In the papers, she stated that her husband told her that she would have to drop divorce proceedings against him if she wanted a portion of his estate.
“He states that he has already paid lawyers $60,000 (R1m) and he is willing to pay more to win. He has never lost a court case,” read her affidavit
The woman said she was entitled to half of the estate as they had a customary marriage.
“I humbly submit that in addition to the consideration of prejudice, the honourable court is enjoined to consider the question of prospects of success of the claim that I make in the divorce action in relation to division, distribution or appointment of matrimonial assets,” read the affidavit.
Since August 2023, after Zimbabwe’s general elections which gave Mnangagwa his second and last constitutional term, the husband has been at the centre of money and power.
In a series of extravagant gestures that drew attention, he went on a gifting spree, distributing dozens of vehicles to musicians, prophets, sports legends and political figures in Zimbabwe.
A rough count puts the value of all cars donated to date — including Rolls-Royces and Bentleys — at over $10m. He has also given cash gifts averaging around $200,000 and some as high as $1m, as in the case of the Zion Christian Church.
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