Harare – The saga surrounding the late former president Robert Mugabe’s estate has taken another dramatic turn, as Tonderai Robert Mugabe, a man claiming to be his son, refuses to relinquish his pursuit of recognition and a rightful share of the inheritance. Despite facing legal setbacks and initial skepticism, Tonderai’s unwavering determination has led to a breakthrough, with key members of the Mugabe family now acknowledging his claim, opening a new chapter in this complex and deeply personal saga.
At the heart of Tonderai’s legal battle is his quest for a declaration that would lead to the re-opening of Mugabe’s estate, allowing him to be recognised as a legitimate heir and receive his due inheritance. He readily admits that he was legally obligated to file his application for review within 30 days of the Master’s decision, as dictated by Section 52 of the Administration of Estates Act. However, he argues that his case warrants special consideration, and that the interests of justice demand a fair hearing.
Tonderai insists that members of the Mugabe family are prepared to vouch for his lineage and corroborate his claim. “There is nowhere I can lawfully inherit from his estate if the estate remains closed,” Tonderai submitted in his court papers. “Elders from the Mugabe clan can testify that I am not a foreigner to the Mugabe family.”
He expressed confidence in his prospects of success, stating, “As fully appears from the draft court application for review, I have good prospects of success and the court is likely to grant the order which I am seeking thereto.”
Tonderai emphasised that his case should be decided on its merits, rather than being dismissed on technicalities. He passionately declared, “I am not driven by the desire to benefit from the late Robert Mugabe’s wealth, but I should know my parentage, in particular, my paternal lineage as a man.”
He pleaded with the court for leniency, saying, “I beg for indulgence from the court to be allowed to be heard before whatever decision is made about where l belong. This case is more important to me than anything else, which can be contemplated. Every man wants to be with his people and take pride in being identified as such. There is no wealth that can buy self-esteem associated with being with your people.”
Tonderai’s claim rests on his assertion that he was born on April 20, 1977, in Chimoio, Mozambique, to Hilda Maeka, who he says had a relationship with Robert Mugabe. According to Tonderai, his parents’ relationship ended abruptly after the bombing of Chimoio, with Mugabe mistakenly believing that Maeka had perished in the attack.
He maintains that his parents reconnected after Zimbabwe gained independence, and that they remained in contact. However, Mugabe passed away before Tonderai could be formally introduced to the rest of the Mugabe family.
In his legal demands, Tonderai seeks the re-opening of Mugabe’s estate, a move that could potentially alter the distribution of the late president’s vast wealth. The matter is currently before High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi, who will ultimately decide whether Tonderai’s case has merit and whether the estate should be re-opened.
Robert Mugabe passed away in September 2019 in Singapore, leaving behind a complex legacy and a family embroiled in legal battles over his estate. He married Grace Mugabe in 1996, four years after the death of his first wife, Sally Hayfron.
However, amidst the legal complexities and family disputes, a significant development has occurred: the Mugabe family has extended an olive branch to Tonderai Robert Mugabe, acknowledging him as a member of their clan. This acceptance follows the DNA evidence that confirmed a high probability of a familial link between Tonderai and the Mugabe family.
This dramatic turn of events has shed light on a previously undisclosed chapter in the life of Zimbabwe’s former leader, revealing a long-held family secret that has now come to the forefront.
While Chief Karigamombe acknowledged Tonderai’s presence, he noted that no formal traditional welcoming ceremony had taken place. Nevertheless, his acknowledgment represents a significant step towards the family’s acceptance of Tonderai. “I know him from his visits here, but there is nothing done traditionally on welcoming him. There are many children who later come saying they are Mugabe’s children but some are doing it so that they know their family line and some are for material things,” he stated.
Further bolstering Tonderai’s claim, Kaitano Mutandwa Mugabe, the son of Mugabe’s younger brother Donato, provided an affidavit formally acknowledging Tonderai as a member of the family. The affidavit, which has been seen by The Standard, states: “In my capacity as the eldest son in the family, I have accepted and (taken) my younger brother Tonderai Gabriel Mugabe aboard.”
The affidavit also reveals that Bridget Mugabe, the late president’s sister, played a key role in introducing Tonderai to his father at State House. Bridget’s daughter, Laurencia, has also confirmed Tonderai’s claim in her own affidavit, stating, “We separated when the mother took the child to Cde Fay Chung after the war. We thought him and his mother had died because we could not find him. Later on, he was found by my mother Bridget Mugabe. He is the son of Robert Mugabe.”
Tonderai’s account places his birth at the Chimoio base in Mozambique on April 20, 1977, during the height of the liberation war. He claims that his mother, Hilda Maeka, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Paidamoyo, had a relationship with Robert Mugabe. Maeka tragically passed away in 1995 due to complications related to hypertension and was posthumously recognised as a liberation war heroine by Mugabe.
A letter dated July 18, 2016, from Ignatius Chombo, then the Zanu-PF secretary for administration, confirms this posthumous honour, stating: “I, His Excellency, the president and first secretary of Zanu (PF), Cde R.G. Mugabe has conferred a liberation war heroine status to the late Cde Hilda Maeka who passed away on September 29, 1995.”
Tonderai explains that his mother chose to keep his father’s identity a secret out of fear of upsetting Sally Mugabe, the former president’s wife. This secrecy was further corroborated by Tonderai’s maternal grandfather, Thomas Maeka, who recounted numerous unsuccessful attempts to have the Mugabe family acknowledge Tonderai.
“Tonderai’s mother worked in one of the offices in Mozambique, that is when she met Robert Mugabe,” Thomas Maeka explained. “We did not know the father of the baby she brought from the war because she was secretive about it. We only got to know about it when Tonderai met some senior party officials in Harare. From there, I had numerous interactions with one of Mugabe’s close relatives, but nothing materialised. He always promised me that he was going to talk to Mugabe about the issue, but he would get evasive each time I made follow-ups. We eventually kept quiet.”
Despite the recent acceptance by some members of the Mugabe family, Tonderai’s life has been far from easy. He describes a difficult upbringing in Glen Norah, where he attended Shiriyedenga Primary School. After his mother’s death, he resorted to collecting and selling scrap metal to fund his education.
He recalls his mother’s entrepreneurial spirit, noting, “My mother was one of the first people to get into business after the war. She had a number of knitting machines which she used to generate income.”
The DNA evidence, which revealed a 99.997871% probability of a familial relationship with a half-sibling, provided crucial validation for his claim. However, despite this compelling evidence, the Registrar of Births and Deaths has thus far refused to issue him with a birth certificate that acknowledges Mugabe as his father.
Earlier this year, Tonderai Gabriel Mugabe withdrew his High Court application seeking a share of the late leader’s estate. The withdrawal, which came after intense scrutiny of his case, leaves the estate undisturbed.
Tonderai’s application, filed against Bona Mugabe, the executor of the estate, sought to reopen the estate and include himself as a rightful heir. The application also named the Registrar of Births and Deaths and the Master of the High Court as respondents.
His legal team, led by Mr T.M. Zenda of Hungwe and Partners, cited several issues needing rectification before resubmitting a revised application. These issues included a review of the Master of the High Court’s decision to proceed with the estate’s distribution despite pending High Court cases.
In his original application, Tonderai sought a court order compelling Bona Mugabe to provide him with a copy of his late father’s death certificate. This, he argued, was necessary to amend his birth certificate to reflect his father’s identity. He claimed to have been born on April 20, 1977, in Chimoio, Mozambique, during the liberation struggle. He stated that his mother, Hilda Maeka, had a relationship with the late president, and that their relationship ended after the bombing of Chimoio, with Mugabe believing Maeka to be deceased.
Tonderai further alleged that his parents reconnected after Zimbabwe’s independence and maintained contact, although Mugabe kept their relationship secret from his family. He stated that he had occasional meetings with his father but that the relationship remained undisclosed to the Mugabe family. He also claimed to have been in contact with some members of the Mugabe family, including his aunt, Laurencia Machemedze Mugabe. He added that his father’s death prevented his formal introduction to the family.
