The footballing world in Zimbabwe has been abuzz with the news of Khama Billiat, the Yadah FC star player, becoming the brand ambassador of Styles by Minnie, a local clothing shop owned by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Miniyothabo Baloyi. This announcement, made on Tuesday by Styles by Minnie on their social media platforms, has sparked a wave of interest and discussion across the country.
“Yesterday (Monday) we were thrilled to announce the appointment of our new brand ambassadors at Style By Minnie Official,” the clothing shop stated. “Congratulations on this exciting journey; we look forward to a successful partnership and many stylish ventures ahead.”
Billiat’s association with Styles by Minnie has ignited a firestorm of debate, particularly in light of the complex personal history of Vice President Chiwenga and his wife. The Vice President, a former army general, got married to Baloyi following the dissolution of his marriage to Mary Mubaiwa, a woman who has been embroiled in a bitter legal battle with him over their divorce, child custody and property rights.
In 2019, Chiwenga legally divorced Mubaiwa, paying a traditional token of US$100, known as gupuro in Shona, which was handed over to her by the then Zimbabwean ambassador to Tanzania Anselem Sanyatwe. In February 2022, High Court judge, Justice Owen Tagu ruled that the marriage had already ended when Chiwenga filed for divorce in Zimbabwe’s courts. Justice Tagu was quoted as saying:
“It is declared that by the time proceedings in HC 9837/19 were instituted, the customary union between the parties had ceased to subsist. The ancillary issues relating to custody, maintenance and property rights of the parties are stood down for determination at trial, which shall be set down by the defendant as and when she can prosecute the matter.”
Following this turbulent period, Chiwenga married Baloyi in June 2022 in a private ceremony attended by family and close friends. The couple later exchanged vows in a grand ceremony at St Gerard’s Catholic Church in Borrowdale, Harare on Saturday 23 December 2023. Baloyi, a Colonel in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, has been a prominent figure in the country’s social scene, and her marriage to the Vice President has added another layer of intrigue to the already complex narrative.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a heartfelt congratulatory message to the couple at their wedding, alluded to the long-standing connection between Chiwenga and Baloyi. “I know too much about these two since my time as their defence minister,” Mnangagwa said. “I for one know too much about the two people but this is not the platform to say it all. The two have travelled a long journey together. My young brother (Chiwenga) may not know that I knew what was happening even when I was the Minister of Defence. I am exceedingly happy that it has come to this conclusion, God bless you,” said Mnangagwa who was the Minister of Defence from 2009 to 2013.
Billiat’s association with Styles by Minnie, a business owned by the Vice President’s wife, has further intertwined the worlds of sports, business, and politics in Zimbabwe. This endorsement deal has not only garnered attention for the fashion brand but has also raised questions about the potential influence and connections that may be at play.
The football star is not the only prominent figure to be associated with Styles by Minnie. The fashion brand has also announced a star-studded ambassador team including socialites Madam Boss, Lorraine Guyo and Tariro Gezi, a radio personality who has been trending recently over her leaked Instagram chats with flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
This high-profile endorsement team suggests that Styles by Minnie is aiming to become a major player in the Zimbabwean fashion scene, and the involvement of Billiat, a beloved national figure, has certainly helped to raise the brand’s profile.
