Nguni guards wealth from wife

Tsitsi Mabukuchena quietly filed a suit against her ex earlier last month, claiming that she is entitled to 50 per cent of the up-front money and properties the minister owns. Minister Nguni maintains that the property he bought before they met was his, and said that his ex had taken enough of his cash. The Nguni divorce case included sordid allegations that the minister routinely cheated on his wife and was abusive, according to court papers.

50% of everything

The wife wants 50 per cent of everything and US$3,000 monthly maintenance. Nguni is reportedly unhappy to be back in court with her again, according to his lawyers who said the marriage had irretrievably broken down and that she had “conducted herself in a manner which is not consistent with the continuation of a normal marital relationship”. His lawyers said the minister did not want her to be an albatross around his neck forever, in papers filed before a High Court judge presiding over their big-bucks battle.

Tsitsi’s divorce deal provides that she gets half of the properties that the minister owns: eight houses, a South African flat and a Norton plot, one house in Borrowdale, two in Mandara, two in Alexandra Park, one in Newlands, one in Norton and a flat at Northfields in the Avenues. The wife wants half of the vehicles, including two Mercedes Benzes.

She is also gunning for half of shareholding in Cottco, Aico, Olam, Seed Co, Underfield Investments, Lombard Investments, Valley Growers, Fitmen Investments, Mike Appel and Interfin, the family boat, Mugoni Service Station, Scapelox, Transtobac (Pvt) Ltd. She also wants half of the cash held in external bank accounts and investments outside Zimbabwe that are not listed.

Tsitsi’s lawyers Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans, said the divorce agreement contained a clause that said her client was entitled to half the assets and money. It is not clear how minister Nguni accumulated all this wealth. The minister’s lawyers said the ex-wife’s attempted takeover of his client’s assets should be dismissed, because it has no merit.