HARARE – The estate of late Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo has been formally registered with the Master of the High Court, marking the first major legal step towards administering his multimillion-dollar fortune following his death in a helicopter crash.
The registration was completed approximately three weeks ago, with an initial meeting already held, although an executor or executrix has yet to be appointed to oversee the estate.
The development means the formal process of identifying Chivayo’s assets, establishing outstanding liabilities and determining the lawful beneficiaries has not yet begun.
According to The Sunday Mail, officials familiar with the developments at the Master of the High Court confirmed that the estate had been registered but declined to disclose details about its value or composition.
One source told the publication that the initial meeting had taken place but the appointment of an executor remained outstanding.
A second source indicated that further information would only be released once the administration process had advanced.
Chivayo died alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, in a helicopter crash in Marondera on September 30, leaving behind two minor children and extensive business interests.
His death has raised questions about the future ownership and management of his commercial interests, investments, luxury properties and other assets accumulated during his business career.
The administration process could face additional complexity because of unresolved legal proceedings involving the businessman.
Among the outstanding matters is a reported US$25 million matrimonial property dispute involving his former wife, Sonja Madzikanda, which was awaiting determination by the Supreme Court when he died.
The eventual resolution of that dispute could have implications for which properties and financial interests are included in the estate available for distribution.
Under Zimbabwe’s deceased estate administration framework, an appointed executor is responsible for identifying and safeguarding assets, establishing liabilities, addressing legitimate claims and distributing the remaining estate in accordance with the law.
The absence of an appointed executor means the full financial position of Chivayo’s estate has yet to be formally established.
The registration nevertheless provides the legal foundation for the next stage of administration, although the scale of the reported business interests and the outstanding litigation could prolong the process.
The interests of the two minor children also place additional importance on ensuring that the estate is administered lawfully and that their inheritance rights are protected.
For now, the immediate outstanding issue is the appointment of an executor, whose responsibilities will include establishing the estate’s full asset and liability position before any distribution can take place.
The Master of the High Court has not publicly disclosed the estimated value of the estate or provided a timetable for completing the administration process.
