One of Zimbabwe’s most significant matrimonial disputes has reached a boiling point as former Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo and his wife, Marian Chombo, face off in the High Court. After more than a decade of separation, the couple has conceded that their marriage is beyond repair, yet a massive gulf remains regarding the distribution of an estate that spans the entire country and beyond.
At the heart of the trial is Marian Chombo’s demand for a 50% share of all assets acquired during the marriage. She cites a post-nuptial agreement and her "intellectual and supportive contribution" as the legal basis for her claim to what appears to be one of the largest private property portfolios to ever come before the Zimbabwean courts.
The Financial Demands
Beyond the physical assets, Mrs. Chombo is seeking lifetime spousal maintenance in the amount of US$2,000 per month, a payment she insists should continue until her death or remarriage.
A Fleet of Luxury and Utility
The inventory of vehicles currently under dispute totals 15, ranging from high-end luxury SUVs to heavy-duty farm machinery:
Luxury & SUVs: 4 Toyota Land Cruisers, 3 Mercedes-Benzes, and 1 Mahindra.
Workhorses: 2 Nissan Navaras (Wolf), 1 Toyota Vigo, 1 Mazda BT-50, 1 Nissan Hardbody, 1 Toyota Hilux, and a bus.
The Real Estate Empire
Battle of the Assets: Chombo’s Decadelong Divorce Heads to Trial Over Vast Property Empire list of properties submitted to the court reads like a national registry, covering nearly every major urban and rural hub in Zimbabwe:
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Region Property Highlights
Harare Residential Five premium houses (Alexandra Park, Greendale, Milton Park, Mount Pleasant, Avondale) and 5 flats.
Harare Development 20 stands in Crow Hill (Borrowdale), 10 in Glen Lorne, and multiple stands in Mt Pleasant Heights and Ruwa.
Regional Towns Assets in Bulawayo (2 houses, 3 stands), Victoria Falls (2 houses), Mutare (2 stands), and Chegutu (2 houses).
Border & Tourism Multiple commercial and residential stands in Kariba, Beitbridge, Chirundu, and Chinhoyi.
International Real estate assets located in South Africa.
Agricultural and Commercial Interests
The Chombos' reach extends deep into Zimbabwe’s economic sectors. Marian Chombo is claiming half-stakes in:
Farming: Operations at Allan Grange and Darton Farms, including livestock, heavy machinery (combine harvesters, tractors), and industrial grinding mills.
Corporate: A 50% shareholding in 10 family companies, including Landberry and Track in Security.
Mining: An active interest in Mvurwi Mine.
The Legal Standoff
Marian Chombo’s legal team argues that many of these assets are held through proxies and shell companies, yet remain matrimonial property subject to the 50/50 split agreed upon post-nuptially. The court must now untangle this web of ownership to decide whether the former Minister’s vast wealth was a product of the joint union or falls outside the scope of the divorce settlement.
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