High Court Rules Sonja Madzikanda Was Never Married to Wicknell Chivayo

By Staff Reporter
HARARE – Zimbabwe's High Court has ruled that socialite Sonja Madzikanda was never legally married to businessman Wicknell Chivayo, bringing a dramatic turn to a long-running legal dispute between the former couple.

The ruling, delivered on Monday, concludes months of court proceedings in which Madzikanda sought recognition of their relationship as a marriage, while Chivayo maintained that no valid marriage existed between them.

Speaking in a video shared on social media after the judgment, Madzikanda expressed disappointment and disbelief at the court's decision, saying she had been informed that the court found she had never been married.

"Today, the judgment was made final. The court decided that I have never been married, but that's okay," she said.

The dispute centred on the nature of the couple's relationship, which spanned several years and involved children, family participation and traditional ceremonies. Chivayo had argued before the court that any customary union that may have existed between them ended in 2024 and disputed claims relating to spousal maintenance, divorce proceedings and the division of assets.

Although the judgment was announced on Monday, the court had not yet released its full written reasons for the decision at the time of publication.

Reacting to the ruling, Madzikanda questioned how a relationship involving children and traditional family processes could ultimately be deemed not to constitute a marriage.

She said the outcome highlighted the need for women to fully understand their legal standing in relationships, warning that similar situations could affect others in the future.

The case attracted significant public interest in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, particularly after Madzikanda secured an anti-dissipation order earlier this year in South Africa that reportedly froze assets linked to Chivayo and companies associated with him.

The matter was presided over by High Court Judge Justice Amy Tsanga.

Legal analysts say the significance of the ruling will become clearer once the court releases the full judgment, which is expected to detail the legal basis for determining that no valid marriage existed between the parties.

The decision marks another chapter in one of Zimbabwe's most closely watched relationship and property disputes involving a high-profile businessman and his former partner.