(NEWZIMBABWE) Chombo divorce deal trashes graft talk: lawyer

Chombo divorce deal trashes graft talk: lawyer
02/09/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

LOCAL government minister Ignatius Chombo has reached a divorce settlement with his estranged wife which, his lawyer insists, trashes claims he may have used his public office to corruptly enrich himself.

In 2009, Chombo’s wife of 25 years, Marian, raised eye-brows over the source of the minister’s egregious riches when she demanded a huge share of an asset portfolio that included luxury vehicles, shares in various companies as well as over 100 residential stands and dozens of houses around the country.

Chombo denied he owned most of the assets she listed and his lawyer, Wilson Manase, said at the weekend the minister had been vindicated by the divorce deal endorsed by High Court judge, Ben Hlatshwayo.

Manase said Marian failed to prove that Chombo owned the properties she earlier claimed he was hiding from her.

“Over the past four years, my client has been demonised, maligned and politically assassinated as being cor­rupt,” Manase said.

“Various lists of properties were pub­lished as belonging to him but it turned out that only the properties we had ear­lier offered for distribution were shared.

“Had there been any other out­standing properties, (Marian) could not have consented to a divorce order.

“It leaves one in no doubt that Minister Chombo is not corrupt as earlier alleged. He never abused his office to acquire the said properties.”

Under the deal, endorsed by Justice Hlatshwayo, Marian was given:

* Six trucks and horses.
* Mercedes Benz, Nissan Hard­body truck, green Toyota Land cruiser, one AVM bus, three trailers, one tanker and an 18 tonne truck.
* Number 243 Acturus Road, Greendale, Harare.
* Four flats being block Clyst Road Chadcombe, Harare
* Lot Number 3 Remainder along Simon Mazorodze Road.
* Flat B320 Odzi Flats Eastview Gardens.
* Two Shawasha Hills stands.
* Number 7386-4th Way Glen View 7, Harare.
* Furniture at Allan Grange Farm, 45 Besset Crescent, Alex Park and at 243 Acturus Road, Greendale.

The deal also makes Chombo solely liable and responsible for the settle­ment of all loans and debts outstand­ing to the couple’s flats, houses and farm equip­ment. The Minister was handed the following assets and properties:

* 1x 2-bedroom flats (Eastview Gar­dens) Harare.
* Stand Number 5841 Norton Township.
* Stand 809 Camphill, Mica Point Kariba
* All implements at Allan Grange Farm, Raffingora that were acquired through existing loans.