Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
The estate of the late businessman Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo has entered a significant new phase after the Master of the High Court formally appointed two co-executrixes to administer the deceased’s affairs yesterday.
Esther Chivayo and Sonja Louise Madzikanda were officially authorised to oversee the administration of the estate following recommendations from their legal representatives and an edict meeting held last week.
Their appointments were confirmed through the issuance of Letters of Administration under reference number 105417/26.
In a letter dated November 9, 2026, the Master of the High Court formally recognised the two women as Co-Executrixes Datives, granting them legal authority to manage and wind up the estate.
The letter, signed on behalf of the Master by an official identified as Nyagano, states:
“These are to certify that Esther Chivayo and Sonja Louise Madzikanda have been duly appointed the Co-Executrixes Datives, and are hereby authorised as such to administer the estate of the late Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo, who died at Marondera on the 30th day of September 2026. Thus done and signed at Harare, Zimbabwe, on this 9th day of November 2026.”
The appointments follow the completion of key legal procedures associated with the estate, including the submission of recommendations by legal practitioners and the convening of an edict meeting.
With the issuance of the Letters of Administration, the co-executrixes now have formal authority to administer the estate in accordance with Zimbabwean law. However, the appointments carry significant statutory obligations.
In the same correspondence, the Master reminded the co-executrixes of their legal duty to account for the administration of the estate within the prescribed timeframe.
Under the law, every executor is required to lodge an administration account with the Master of the High Court. Failure to do so within six months of appointment, without lawful and sufficient excuse, may result in the forfeiture of any fees to which the executor would otherwise be entitled.
The Master also warned that an executor who fails to submit the required account within the stipulated period may be summoned to appear before the High Court.
“This serves, therefore, to inform you that the above provisions of the law be strictly enforced,” the letter reads.
The warning highlights the emphasis placed on transparency, accountability and legal compliance during the administration of deceased estates.
With the appointments now formalised, Esther Chivayo and Sonja Louise Madzikanda assume responsibility for administering the estate under the supervision of the Master of the High Court, marking another key procedural step in the winding up of the late businessman’s affairs.
