Wicknell Chivayo has withdrawn charges against his ex-wife Sonja Louise Madzikanda and her mother Tabitha Madzikanda after the pair spent several nights in custody following their arrest over allegations linked to cyber-bullying and the circulation of an alleged AI-generated video involving South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The two women expected to appear in court this morning for what had been scheduled as a delayed bail hearing after prosecutors previously opposed their release on the grounds that they were likely to reoffend and interfere with investigations.
Sonja was arrested on Monday while her mother was detained a day later. The pair had appeared before Harare magistrate Chipo Manicure facing allegations of cyber-bullying and harassment under Section 164B of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The case centred on photographs and videos allegedly portraying Chivayo meeting President Ramaphosa before the South African leader’s official visit to Zimbabwe on May 3. Prosecutors claimed the material had been generated using Artificial Intelligence technology and shared online to embarrass both Chivayo and Ramaphosa politically.
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According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Sonja allegedly accessed Chivayo’s mobile phone during their marriage and downloaded photographs and videos which were later shared with her mother. Prosecutors further alleged the two women combined the material with AI-generated content as part of a social media campaign targeting the businessman.
Court papers had identified Chivayo, founder and chief executive of Intratek Zimbabwe, as the complainant, saying the alleged actions caused him “substantial emotional distress and humiliation.”
The prosecution had also indicated that investigations were expected to continue until June 3, with four witnesses lined up to testify.
The arrests came amid an ongoing and bitter fallout between Chivayo and Sonja following the collapse of their marriage, which began in 2019 before divorce proceedings were initiated last year. Upon her arrest, Sonja claimed she was being targeted over disputes involving access to their children, although that issue was not before the court.
Separate allegations involving a reported US$1.4 million trust fund dispute concerning Chivayo’s children had also surfaced, with claims that Tabitha attempted to alter trust administration arrangements and remove Chivayo as a signatory. That matter, however, had not yet been brought before the courts.
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