Bona Mugabe owns Dubai mansion, Zimbabwe court papers allege

Divorce tribunal papers seen by the BBC allege that the girl of Zimbabwe's ex-President Robert Mugabe owned 25 residential properties, including a Dubai mansion, worthy a full of astir $80m (£64m).

Bona Mugabe filed for divorcement from erstwhile aviator Simba Mutsahuni Chikore successful March.

Mr Chikore wants to divided their assets, which besides see 21 farms, helium says.

Ms Mugabe has not yet commented connected the claims but volition beryllium capable to bash so.

A root adjacent to the Mugabe household told the BBC that the erstwhile president had thing successful his sanction erstwhile helium died, though helium received £10m from the authorities arsenic portion of his pension. The root besides questioned whether Bona Mugabe owned each the assets listed by her erstwhile partner.

However, Zimbabweans person reacted with daze and outrage to the grade of the wealthiness allegedly accumulated by conscionable 1 of Mr Mugabe's children.

Luxury vehicles, farming instrumentality and hundreds of thousands of dollars successful currency were besides mentioned successful the divorcement papers.

Some of the 21 farms were allegedly acquired by the Mugabe household during the contentious takeover of white-owned farms successful the aboriginal 2000s, and contempt the government's argumentation of "one-man one-farm".

Mr Chikore, who is besides demanding associated custody of the couple's 3 children, says the assets were acquired solely and jointly during their marriage, done inheritance and donations from the precocious president for enactment carried retired connected his behalf.

He adds that the assets helium has listed are a driblet successful the ocean, compared to the wealthiness Ms Mugabe owns outright.

In response, George Charamba, who was Mr Mugabe's spokesperson and present serves successful President Emmerson Mnangagwa's office, denied that the mates owned 21 farms.

"All Agricultural Land belongs to the State, with farmers utilizing it connected LEASE BASIS," helium tweeted.

He added that no-one should "build immoderate authorities oregon arguments astir alleged 21 farms allegedly owned by Cde Bona and her estranged hubby".

It is unclear erstwhile the divorcement lawsuit - being heard by a tribunal successful the capital, Harare - volition end.

Ms Mugabe and Ms Chikore were joined astatine a lavish wedding successful 2014 that was attended by respective African heads of authorities - and was broadcast unrecorded connected authorities television.

Mr Mugabe died successful 2019 astatine the property of 95, reportedly without leaving a will. He is survived by his woman Grace, Bona, 2 sons and a step-son.

He was successful powerfulness successful Zimbabwe from the clip of independency successful 1980 until helium was ousted successful 2017 by Mr Mnangagwa, his erstwhile ally-turned-rival.