Minister Chombo used unregistered car for over a year
By Lance Guma
Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo used his brand new US$92 000 Land Rover Discovery 4 vehicle for over a year without registering it in his name and succeeded in having it excluded from his messy high profile divorce.
Nehanda Radio can exclusively reveal that Chombo’s metallic blue 4×4 vehicle has been moving around without license plates for over a year now. A source close to the Minister told us his entourage actually has three such vehicles.
The Zvimba North Zanu PF MP was embroiled in a messy divorce with his wife of 26 years, Marian Mhloyi. Not only did the case expose his massive property portfolio but also his affair with former ZBC news anchor, Nanette Silukhuni.
Last year Chombo is reported to have bragged about his fabulous wealth during a meeting with representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who were in the country working on a housing project for the poor in Dzivarasekwa.
A report by the Daily News newspaper said the team paid Chombo a courtesy call at his Makombe Building offices. The Minister decided to impress the females telling them “I have two maids in the house and two guys outside.
“I have 10 lights on the two sides of the road because I reside at the corner. Even the side that covers the road area is much clearer. Not street lights but our own lights. I can provide lighting much better and cheaper because I have a guy who is employed full-time responsible for that,” Chombo said.
He also said “I don’t understand why the city could spend money cutting grass between my house and the road. This is what the city does here. They have absolutely no capacity to do it and how they cut does not match the beauty that I want. So my guy does the grass outside because I have a guy who does that.”
Asked why he needed so many people he said “It works here but it doesn’t work in your country. When you look at the Zimbabwean situation and the need for shelter, everyone wants a bigger house, even my driver wants to build a bigger house, he doesn’t want to build a small house,” he said.
“I bought my car in America and was given 48 months to pay but I could have burnt it and changed from one state to another and got away with it,” he said.
Chombo (on US targeted travel restrictions) could not resist giving one of the beautiful American reps a bear hug and telling her “Next time when I come to Texas, I have a grandson there in Dallas, I will make sure that I see you.”
Court documents filed by his wife exposed that Chombo, a former teacher, had interests in several farms, mines, hunting safari lodges in Chiredzi, Hwange, Magunje and Chirundu, as well as properties in South Africa.
Local properties included 75 residential and commercial stands plus 14 houses and 5 flats, all dotted around the country. Not to mention 15 vehicles. The beginning of this month Justice Ben Hlatshwayo granted a decree of divorce.
Property shared was that which Minister Chombo had earlier offered. But from the initial list that Ms Mhloyi had put forward in her affidavits the court said she had failed to prove that it was ‘matrimonial property’.
According to the divorce order, Ms Mhloyi got:
Six trucks and horses.
Mercedes Benz, Nissan Hardbody truck, green Toyota Landcruiser, one AVM bus, three trailers, one tanker and an 18 tonne truck.
Number 243 Acturus Road, Greendale, Harare.
Four flats being block Clyst Road Chadcombe, Harare
Lot Number 3 Remainder along Simon Mazorodze Road.
Flat B320 Odzi Flats Eastview Gardens.
Two Shawasha Hills stands.
Number 7386-4th Way Glen View 7, Harare.
Furniture at Allan Grange Farm, 45 Besset Crescent, Alex Park and at 243 Acturus Road, Greendale.
With effect from today (Saturday September 1 2012), Ms Mhloyi shall be entitled to the fruits and use of all the property allocated to her. She was given nine months to stay at Allan Grange Farm as she finds alternative accommodation.
Minister Chombo was allocated:
1x 2-bedroom flats (Eastview Gardens) Harare.
Stand Number 5841 Norton Township.
Stand 809 Camphill, Mica Point Kariba
All implements at Allan Grange Farm, Raffingora that were acquired through existing loans.
Minister Chombo shall be solely liable and responsible for the settlement of all loans and debts outstanding to flats, houses and farm equipment.
Below is Chombo’s wealth as revealed in Marian’s divorce court papers which Chombo disputed.
4 Toyota Land Cruisers
3 Mercedes Benzes
l Mahindra
2 Nissan Wolfs, 1 Toyota Vigo, 1 Mazda BT-50, 1 Bus 1 Nissan Hard body 1 Toyota Hilux
Mrs Chombo was also claimed other properties that included:
2 Glen View houses
2 flats in Queensdale
A property in Katanga Township`
Stand Number 1037 Mount Pleasant Heights
4 Norton business stands
3 Chinhoyi business stands
4 Banket business stands
1 commercial stand in Epworth
2 residential stands in Chirundu
4 commercial stands in Kariba
1 stand in Ruwa
1 stand in Chinhoyi
2 stands in Mutare
2 stands in Binga
4 stands in Victoria Falls
1 stand in Zvimba Rural
Chitungwiza (two residential and two commercial stands)
Beitbridge (four stands)
20 stands in Crow Hill, Borrowdale
10 stands in Glen Lorne
2 flats at Eastview Gardens (B319 and B320)
1 flat at San Sebastian Flats in the Avenues, Harare
Number 79 West Road, Avondale
Greendale house
Number 36 Cleveland Road, Milton Park
Number 135 Port Road, Norton
2 Bulawayo houses
Number 18 Cuba Rd, Mount Pleasant
Number 45 Basset Crescent, Alexandra Park
2 Chegutu houses
1 Glen Lorne house (Harare)
2 houses (Victoria Falls)
1 Stand along Simon Mazorodze Road
Norton (one stand)
Avondale (two stands)
365 Beverly House (one stand)
Bulawayo (three stands)
Mica Point Kariba (one stand)
Other properties named also include, cattle at Darton Farm, shared chicken runs, pigsties, a shop, grinding mill, house, mills, tractors, lorries, six trucks, five of which are non-runners, four trailers (three non-runners) and one truck.
Marian also revealed that the minister has shares in 10 companies including Dickest, Hamdinger, Landberry and Track in Security Company.
She further revealed that Chombo has a stake in Mvurwi Mine, hunting safari lodges in Chiredzi, Hwange, Magunje and Chirundu as well as properties in South Africa.
