The real reason why billionaire chivayo was dumped by first wife

The divorce between Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his first wife, Sonja Louise Madzikanda, became one of the most talked-about chapters of the businessman’s personal life.

Chivayo and Sonja married under customary law in 2017 and went on to have two children. However, their relationship eventually collapsed, with both sides giving accounts of what contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.

One of the major issues highlighted by Chivayo was persistent conflict involving his family. The businessman claimed that disagreements between Sonja and members of his family, including his mother and sisters, created tensions in the marriage. According to his account, the disputes became increasingly difficult to manage and contributed to the couple growing apart.

Sonja, however, presented a different side of the story in court proceedings. Reports on the divorce dispute indicate that she made allegations involving infidelity, emotional abuse and abandonment. These allegations formed part of her account of the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the marriage.

Chivayo has since strongly disputed aspects of his former wife’s version of events. In later public comments, he made his own allegations concerning the relationship, including claims of emotional and physical abuse. Such claims and counterclaims have remained highly personal and should be understood as allegations made by the respective parties rather than established facts unless confirmed by a court.

The separation did not end the dispute between the former couple. Their disagreements later extended to matters concerning their children, financial support and property, resulting in legal proceedings.

The financial dimension of their divorce attracted considerable public attention because of Chivayo’s substantial wealth. In 2026, the Zimbabwe High Court reportedly finalized a settlement involving the couple. Under the agreement, Chivayo committed US$5 million toward the maintenance and investment of funds for their children.

The Chivayo-Sonja marriage therefore appears to have ended after a combination of family disagreements, accusations of marital misconduct, allegations of abuse and an increasingly strained relationship.

Despite the public attention surrounding their divorce, the precise reasons for the marriage ending remain disputed, with Chivayo and Sonja offering significantly different accounts of what happened behind closed doors.