LOCAL ZIMBABWE NEWS | REAL ESTATE & LEGAL Wicknell Chivayo’s US$2.5 Million Gletwyn Mansion ...
Wicknell Chivayo’s US$2.5 Million Gletwyn Mansion Dispute Deepens as Questions Mount Over Ownership, Augustine Chihuri Deal and ZIMRA Tax Bill!
Written By: Local News Desk | Published: October 20, 2026 | 4 min read
A massive property dispute involving the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s sprawling mansion in Harare’s upscale Gletwyn suburb has emerged, threatening to become a major legal headache for the executor of his estate. Valued in the millions, the 11.5-hectare property's legal ownership remains in limbo following an incomplete 2017 transaction with former police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri.
According to details from a sale agreement seen by ZimLive, complications over capital gains tax and a massive Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) valuation halted the official transfer of the property. Now, legal experts warn that Chihuri could potentially seek to reclaim the estate entirely.
The Initial US$2.555 Million Deal
In 2017, Chivayo agreed to purchase the sprawling Gletwyn property from Augustine Chihuri. The legal transfer was to take place from Chihuri’s True Hope Trust to Chivayo’s WMC Family Trust, conditional upon full payment of the purchase price, transfer fees, stamp duty, and ZIMRA obligations.
Contract Terms
Under the initial agreement, Chivayo was required to pay a hefty upfront deposit of US$1 million upon signing the contract.
The remaining US$1.555 million was due within 12 months. The contract strictly stipulated that failure to settle the outstanding balance within that period would render the agreement "null and void and of no effect."
The ZIMRA Tax Hurdle
Despite the initial US$1 million payment, the transaction hit a massive administrative wall when it came to processing the capital gains tax required for the legal transfer of ownership.
Who Legally Owns the Mansion?
Following Chivayo's recent passing in a helicopter crash, the central question of who legally owns the 11.5-hectare property has become urgent. The legal mess now falls squarely onto the shoulders of the executor appointed to administer Chivayo's estate.
"One legal expert suggested that Chihuri could potentially seek to reclaim the property by arguing that Chivayo’s part-payment should be treated as rent rather than a deposit towards the purchase price."
As discussions with the estate’s executor loom, the final outcome will depend heavily on the original terms of the agreement, the specific payments made over the years, the current legal status of the True Hope Trust, and how Zimbabwean property law interprets the stalled transaction.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
In 2017, Wicknell Chivayo agreed to purchase the Gletwyn property from former police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri. The deal was structured between Chihuri's True Hope Trust and Chivayo's WMC Family Trust.
The transfer stalled because the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) valued the property at US$7 million, resulting in a massive US$1.4 million capital gains tax bill. Chihuri objected to paying this tax since the agreed purchase price was only US$2.555 million.
Yes, it is possible. Because the transfer was never completed and the contract contained a "null and void" clause for failing to settle the balance within 12 months, legal experts say Chihuri could attempt to reclaim the property by classifying Chivayo's initial US$1 million deposit as rent.
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