Controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo has mocked his former mother-in-law, Tabitha Madzikanda, saying she “learnt a lesson” after spending several days in custody, even as he announced the withdrawal of charges against her and his ex-wife, Sonja Madzikanda.
Speaking during an interview with a local news crew on Friday morning, Chivayo boasted that his former mother-in-law deserved the ordeal after allegedly circulating “fake pictures” linking him to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“She deserves to have slept inside for a few days. Vanzwa batacup,” Chivayo said, in remarks widely seen as mocking the Madzikandas following their arrest.
Chivayo insisted he had no regrets over the arrests, accusing Tabitha Madzikanda of disrespecting a Head of State by allegedly sharing manipulated images involving Ramaphosa.
“For my mother-in-law to circulate fake pictures of President Ramaphosa and me, I think that was a bit out of order. She went to the extreme,” he said.
“Citizens must respect Heads of State. That was uncalled for.”
Despite his hardline stance, Chivayo said he ultimately decided to forgive his ex-wife for the sake of their children, who had reportedly been asking about their mother’s whereabouts.
“She’s the mother of my children, so I have forgiven her,” he said.
“My kids have been calling, asking, where is mommy? So, once it involves my kids, I’m defeated because they are the people I love the most.”
Chivayo added that although his relationship with the Madzikanda family had deteriorated, ties could never be completely severed because of the children he shares with Sonja.
“Our relationship can never end. We have two children, and I will still be there for them,” he said.
The businessman also addressed allegations of fraud arising from the dispute, claiming no fraud had actually occurred but accusing his ex-wife and former mother-in-law of attempting to use funds earmarked for his children to purchase land valued at US$1.4 million.
According to Chivayo, a High Court agreement had designated US$5 million as a cash investment for the children, with him playing an oversight role over the funds.
“So for her to try and remove my name so that she and her mother can go and build clusters, that’s unacceptable,” he said.
Early this month Chivayo launched an urgent High Court application seeking to dismiss divorce proceedings brought by his estranged wife.
Chivayo argues that their customary marriage had already been dissolved in 2024 through the payment and acceptance of “gupuro,” a traditional divorce token under Shona customs. He claims Madzikanda’s current court action — which seeks dissolution of the marriage, recognition of a civil partnership, maintenance, and division of assets — is frivolous and vexatious.
The dispute has expanded into South Africa, where Madzikanda secured an anti-dissipation order from the Gauteng High Court freezing bank accounts linked to Chivayo and grounding a Bombardier Challenger 300 private jet allegedly connected to him.
Chivayo contends the order has severely disrupted his business empire, preventing companies from paying salaries, rent, taxes, and other obligations. He argues the aircraft is owned by Intratrek Holdings and functions as an operational business tool rather than a luxury asset, and says the freezing order effectively forces his companies to cease trading.
Chivayo further claims the South African order is entirely dependent on the ongoing divorce case in Zimbabwe, making dismissal of the local proceedings critical to restoring his business operations.
He also says the freezing of assets threatens his ability to comply with a consent order requiring him to pay US$5 million in child maintenance, including US$2.8 million within 30 days.
His lawyers argue that any failure to meet those obligations would ultimately harm the couple’s children. The urgent application is still awaiting determination by the court.
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