Zvinavashe’s Widow and Son Fight over his Estate
Harare — A bitter wrangle is looming between the widow of the late veteran nationalist Retired General Vitalis Zvinavashe and the national hero’s eldest son who was appointed executor of the estate.
The late Rtd Gen Zvinavashe – the former Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces – died of cancer on March 10 and was buried at the National Heroes Acre.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs Margaret Zvinavashe (nee Mutamba), and several children.
The deceased left a will in which he appointed his eldest son, Richard Musungwa Zvinavashe, as the executor of his estate.
But Mrs Zvinavashe has since written to the Master of the High Court complaining about the executor’s valuation of the estate and has accused Richard of helping himself to proceeds from the Vitalis Musungwa Gava Zvinavashe Trust.
The Trust runs two schools in Westlea, Harare, in addition to several other businesses.
Mrs Zvinavashe wrote: “The valuation was carried out while I was committed somewhere else, thereby raising the question of who pointed out the assets in the house as belonging to the estate.”
She said Richard, who lived abroad for a long time until his father’s death, had decided to give away assets that she had bought with her own money and hence should not be part of the estate.
“Given that the executor was abroad for the past 20 years or so, I begin to wonder how he knew what items belonged to the deceased’s estate and which belonged to the surviving spouse,” she said.
Immovable property that is part of the estate includes Lemonfonte Farm in Masvingo and Knockmalloch Estate in Norton.
Mrs Zvinavashe argues that the furniture in the house at Lemonfont Farm belongs to her.
She claimed to have bought it with her own funds and had substantial evidence to prove it.
She, however, said the house itself and equipment on the farm belonged to the late Rtd Gen Zvinavashe.
Mrs Zvinavashe also claimed that the furniture in the house at Knockmalloch Estate was hers, while the agricultural equipment belonged to her late husband.
However, all the permanent improvements at the farm, Mrs Zvinavashe said, were State properties and could not be part of the estate.
To this end, she said, the valuation of the farm and the improvements done by Richard had no legal basis.
In her communication with the Master of the High Court, Mrs Zvinavashe expressed concern at the manner in which Richard was handling proceeds from the VMGZ Trust.
Mr Shingi Mutumbwa of Mutumbwa and Mugabe Legal Practitioners — who helped in drafting the nationalist’s will — yesterday professed ignorance at the current developments.
“I am not aware . . . I have not received any correspondence whatsoever. The estate is in infancy and I am not aware of the valuations you are talking about. But anyway this has now prompted my interest,” said Mr Mutumbwa.
Posted by Dave Fish Eagle
on July 28, 2009. Filed under Local News.
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