High Court Orders Wicknell Chivayo To Pay Sonja US$5 Million In Divorce Settlement
Reported by: Sona Headlines (Legal Desk)
The High Court has finalised the controversial divorce case between flamboyant Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his estranged wife, Sonja Louise Madzikanda, bringing an end to a protracted legal battle that frequently spilled over into the public domain. The settlement, granted in a consent order before Justice Amy Tsanga on Thursday, 10 April 2026, includes a US$5 million maintenance package and a comprehensive parenting plan for the couple’s minor children.
This court order effectively concludes a period of intense public scrutiny following numerous social media outbursts by Ms. Madzikanda, who had used digital platforms to air grievances against the businessman. Read the full, expanded breakdown of the court's final orders below.
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Breakdown of the High Court Order
According to The Herald, the High Court confirmed that the matter was resolved through a consent order agreed to by both parties. Justice Tsanga outlined exactly how the multi-million-dollar payment would be structured and managed.
Lump Sum & Account Oversight
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Chivayo is to pay a lump sum of US$5 million into a bank account controlled by Ms. Madzikanda; however, the businessman will have oversight of the operation of the said account.
Investment Portfolio & Living Expenses
The court clarified the financial timeline: “The parties record that for a period of 12 months from the date of the transfer, the applicant [Chivayo] shall solely be responsible for all reasonable living expenses of the minor children, to enable the respondent [Madzikanda] to establish and build the investment portfolio.”
Upon expiry of the 12 months, the parties agreed that the children's expenses shall be funded from the returns and/or profits generated from the investment, provided that such returns are sufficient to meet the expenses.
While Ms. Madzikanda was awarded primary residence, the High Court established a rigorous and structured co-parenting arrangement, granting Chivayo significant access rights to their minor children.
Specific Access Rights
Mr. Chivayo is entitled to access for one uninterrupted week per month, all weekends, and alternate public holidays. Furthermore, the court ordered: “The applicant shall be entitled, on his birthday, to have contact with the minor children if that day does not fall on the weekend when the applicant is entitled to contact and access.”
Non-Delegation & Father's Day
A specific clause in the order mandates that during his week of access, Mr. Chivayo must be “personally available and present” and is strictly prohibited from delegating his parental responsibilities to third parties.
The ruling also included Father’s Day provisions: “The minor children shall spend Father’s Day with the applicant. If Father’s Day does not fall over the applicant’s scheduled weekend, the applicant may collect the minor children on Father’s Day and drop them at the respondent’s residence by the end of the day.”
The ruling comes after Madzikanda initially filed a major divorce claim in March 2026, seeking a staggering US$25 million, US$40,000 in monthly maintenance, and ownership of multiple properties and luxury vehicles. His lawyer, Silvester Hashiti, previously stated in court papers that the “Defendant is not her meal-ticket for life.”
Mandatory Mediation Clause
To prevent a repeat of the highly publicised social media outbursts and public feuds, the order seeks to professionalise future interactions between the parties. It officially stipulates that any future disputes must be resolved through mediation or via their respective attorneys before approaching the courts.
Legal Closure & Asset Division
Regarding the division of assets, the court ruled that the proprietary consequences of the termination of the union will be adjudicated under a separate case, HCHF 62/2026. Both parties were ordered to bear their own legal costs.
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