The huge riches accumulated by the ex-president’s family has come to light thanks to the divorce of Robert Mugabe’s daughter, with court documents indicating assets valued at about $80 million.
Simbarashe Mutsahuni (also known as Chikore), a former airline pilot, and 33-year-old Bona Mugabe filed for divorce earlier this year. They had been married for nine years.
In court documents seen by AFP, Chikore lists several assets, including dozens of homes, farms, expensive automobiles, and roughly $1 million in cash, that Mugabe alone or the couple jointly own.
Despite his opposition to the divorce, Chikore requests joint custody of the couple’s three children and a portion of the assets they jointly acquired in the event that it is granted.
Many Zimbabweans are likely to be offended by the range and value of the properties listed in the counterclaim, as the nation battles tremendous inflation, ongoing power outages, and ingrained poverty.
On the list are 21 farms, more than 25 homes in upscale districts of Harare, including one worth $40 million, and a $8 million mansion in Dubai.
Chikore also includes a long list of vehicles, including three Range Rovers and a $800,000 Rolls Royce.
According to the documents, Mugabe also had “substantial cash in foreign currency” and took “cash in the sum of USD 760 000 in a bag” from the couple’s home.
From the time Zimbabwe gained independence from British colonial control in 1980 until his overthrow in November 2017, Mugabe’s father presided. He passed away in Singapore in 2019 at the age of 95.
When he was president, Mugabe, a self-described left-wing radical, was said to have owned several farms that were taken during his divisive land reforms, but it is still unknown how wealthy the Mugabe family really is.
According to information about his estate that was made public in 2019, he left behind two homes, a farm, 10 cars, and $10 million.
The media branded Mugabe’s wife “Gucci Grace” because of her opulent international shopping trips.