Sonja Madzikanda will share administration of Wicknell Chivayo’s estate with his sister, Esther.
Madzikanda will administer her former husband’s estate alongside his sister, Esther, while her US$25 million matrimonial property claim remains unresolved.
Zimbabwean businesswoman Sonja Madzikanda has become co-executrix of her late former husband Wicknell Chivayo’s estate. She will share responsibility for its administration with the businessman’s sister, Esther Chivayo.
The appointment comes while Madzikanda’s US$25 million matrimonial property claim against Chivayo remains unresolved. Her case was still before Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court when he died in September 2026.
Chivayo died in a helicopter crash in Marondera, Zimbabwe, on September 30, 2026. His wife, Lucy Muteke, also died in the crash.
The businessman was known for his lavish lifestyle, expensive gifts and relationships with prominent political figures. However, the outstanding property dispute could complicate the administration of his estate.
Sonja Madzikanda’s estate role and property claim
As co-executrices, Madzikanda and Esther will work together to identify and document Chivayo’s assets. Their responsibilities also include settling outstanding liabilities, addressing legitimate claims and overseeing distribution of the estate under the law.
However, the appointment does not settle Madzikanda’s matrimonial property case or guarantee payment of the US$25 million she sought. Her administrative role and the unresolved claim therefore remain distinct issues in handling the estate.
Madzikanda and Chivayo had two children together, John Chenjerai and Atara Minana, during their marriage. After separating, the former couple continued to co-parent their children.
Meanwhile, the pending legal dispute remains part of the matters surrounding Chivayo’s assets. Its outcome could shape how the estate’s administrators ultimately distribute his wealth.
