Xolisani Ncube
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has presidential ambitions and surrounds himself with people who are abusing his office while supporting his political dreams.
This is revealed by the former army general’s estranged wife, Marry, in her papers challenging the dissolution of their customary law union.
In her papers filed with the High Court through her lawyers, Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners where she is challenging an application by the Vice President to dissolve their marriage, the ex-model states that Chiwenga was restless with the idead of being the next Zimbabwe’s leader.
“The defendant (avers) in reconvention that the demise of the customary law union was brought about by the plaintiff’s (Chiwenga) acute paranoia brought about by his health, his being under heavy doses of drugs including unprescribed (sic) opiates, his surrounding himself with persons who want to take advantage of him and his belief that his ascendency to the position of president might be in jeopardy,” stated Marry in her opposing papers.
Chiwenga wants to dissolve the customary marriage he has with the ex-model and has initiated customary proceedings to end the union.
But Marry, nee Mubaiwa, states that she rejected the move as it was not done according to customary laws.
“This is denied (that the marriage had been terminated) and the plaintiff (Chiwenga) is put to strict proof of his claims. The plaintiff (Chiwenga) sent (Anselem) Sanyatwe (Lieutenant-General Rtd) to give her a United States 100 dollar bill which she declined to accept on the basis that, it is unlawful in Zimbabwe to transact in United States dollars and it was for the plaintiff to give her ‘gupuro’ after following all proper customary protocol,” read the court papers.
Marry denied claims that she was a drug addict and stated that Chiwenga was sick and has no ability to take care of their children.
“Defendant denies that she is a drug addict and pleads that the children were under her exclusive care for long periods of time.
“It is denied that the children’s best interest would be served by custody being awarded to a sickly absentee parent who is more in hospital than out,” read the papers.
Marry further stated that for her to accept the divorce, Chiwenga should maintain her by providing international medical cover until she dies.
She also wants an equivalent of US$40 000 per month for her upkeep calculated at the interbank market rate to maintain her usual lifestyle.
She also wants Chiwenga to pay the entire school fees for the children as well as holidays.
“One fully expensed international holiday per annum at a five star facility inclusive of spending money of not less than the equivalent of US$25 000.
“One fully expensed regional holiday per annum at a five star facility including of spending money of not less than the equivalent of USD$15 000,” read the statement.
Marry also wants a local holiday valued at $25 000 per annum per person.
She wants clothes bought for the children at least twice year.
The Chiwengas are engaged in a messy divorce with the Vice President accusing his estranged wife of plotting to assassinate him while he was in a hospital bed in South Africa.
Chiwenga has reportedly locked Marry out of their matrimonial home and denied her custody of their minor children.
The VP has applied for a gag order to prevent the media from reporting on his divorce – a second in less than a decade – but no judgment has been delivered yet
