Title to the Mugabe family’s Borrowdale home commonly referred as the Blue Roof, and the Mount Pleasant property given to Bona Mugabe-Chikore — the late former president Cde Robert Mugabe’s daughter — as a wedding gift in March 2014, will be transferred to the former First Family, Zanu-PF has reiterated.
Last week, Zanu-PF’s commercial division, M and S Syndicate
(Private) Limited, contested the registration of the upmarket properties cited
as part of the late former president’s estate. Through their lawyers
Chihambakwe, Mutizwa & Associates, the company argued the properties,
including a Waterfalls home, still belonged to them and cannot be registered
under the estate of the late former president.
The Mugabe family had listed the properties as part of the
late former president’s estate in a declaration filed at the Master of the High
Court.
Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Paul Mangwana,
said the position of the party remains that the properties will be transferred
to the Mugabe family, adding the move is also in recognition of Cde Mugabe’s contributions
to the country.
“The leader of the party (President Mnangagwa) made it
abundantly clear that the properties in question will be transferred to the
family. That is the position of the party as communicated by the First
Secretary,” said Cde Mangwana.
“This also comes back to the issue of the relationship
between the party and its former leader. He is the founding father of our
beloved nation and that is one obvious reason why the President made that
commitment.”
The route taken by M & S, Cde Mangwana said, was
legally correct in terms of corporate governance, but work was underway to
finalise the issue with the shareholder (Zanu-PF).
“M & S Syndicate is legally correct that the properties
in question belong to them. In terms of good corporate governance, their
position is justified. However, the party is the shareholder and there will be
communication between the shareholder and M & S Syndicate on how the
properties will be transferred.
“I am not at liberty to share discussions between M & S
Syndicate and the shareholder, which is Zanu-PF. That information will be
shared at the appropriate time. The issue of the transfer is work in progress
and the President made his commitment towards that issue very clear.”
The Mugabe family appointed the late former president’s
daughter, Bona Mugabe-Chikore, as the executor of his estate. According to the
family, Cde Mugabe, who died in Singapore on September 6 this year after a long
battle with prostate cancer, did not leave a will for his vast wealth.
He left behind wife Mrs Grace Mugabe, daughter Bona and
sons Robert and Chatunga, as well as Russel Goreraza (stepson).
Sources privy to the compilation of Cde Mugabe’s estate
told The Sunday Mail that at least three law firms — Uriri Attorneys-at-Law; DSL,
a security services outfit; and Venturas and Samkange Legal Practitioners — are
responsible for the onerous task.
Family lawyer Mr Terrence Hussein of Hussein Ranchod is
reportedly superintending over the
process.
Some close family members, who elected to remain anonymous
because of the sensitivity of the matter, recently told The Sunday Mail that
some of Cde Mugabe’s wealth had already been divided up and might never be
made public.
Family spokesperson Mr Walter Chidhakwa recently told this
publication that the late revolutionary’s belongings were distributed in
accordance with traditional custom at a memorial service held in Zvimba on October
19.
The Blue Roof mansion is valued around US$9 million. Sunday
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