Ex Minister’s divorce exposes vast fortune
They are known to be wealthy, but it is only when they get divorced that the true extent of their riches is revealed.
Former Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo is embroiled in an acrimonious split with his ex-wife Marian, who is demanding a 50 percent share of their vast assets worth millions of dollars.
The jaw-dropping list of properties includes 10 companies, 15 vehicles, dozens of residential houses and commercial stands across the country and South Africa as well as a large commercial farm.
The couple also had interests in mining and tourism, owning lodges and safaris in prime resort areas.
Chombo was a cabinet minister for close to two decades during the late Robert Mugabe’s era and apparently it is during that time that he amassed most of his fortune.
He obviously used his muscle during his tenure to acquire houses and stands all over the country, and I guess he was not even buying but grabbing for free.
Mind you, we are talking of plots in leafy suburbs including 20 in Borrowdale, which is Harare’s most affluent area.
The endless list of Chombo’s assets shows the type of leaders that Zimbabwe has, people only concerned about acquiring personal wealth, with no care whatsoever for the welfare of ordinary people.
And if Chombo has so much under his name, just imagine what his principals are sitting on!
This reminds me of another shocking list of assets; that of Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, which was also revealed during her divorce proceedings a few years back.
Bona and her husband jointly owned 22 commercial farms, 25 properties in the wealthy suburbs of Harare and Dubai, more than 20 vehicles including a pricey Rolls-Royce and several offshore accounts.
And again if a child can own this much, imagine what the parents have. Mugabe’s famous blue-roof mansion in Borrowdale has 25 bedrooms, two lakes and a multi-million dollar radar system, just to show the kind of expensive taste that they have, especially the former first lady, Grace, also known as ‘Gucci Grace’ because of her love for designer clothes and finer things in life.
Anyway, back to the Chombos, the High Court is expected to rule over sharing of assets and some of the demands made by Marian, who wants a monthly maintenance fee of US$2, 000 (about P28, 000) until her death or re-marriage.
The legal basis of her claim is a nuptial agreement entitling her to half of all property acquired during the marriage and contribution through ideas and support during the marriage.
