Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE ongoing legal dispute between Kingdom Blue Funeral Service founder and chief executive officer, Brilliant Ncube and his estranged wife, Mrs Sibonguthando Ncube, continues to unfold, with Ncube claiming that he has been providing spousal support through cash payments.
The couple made their first court appearance in April this year, where several details of their separation were revealed.
In the most recent hearing, Ncube, a prominent businessman and funeral services mogul, said that he has been making spousal support payments in cash via a relative and that he is only in arrears from February, contrary to his estranged wife’s assertions.
The matter is before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Eva Matura, who said she will deliver judgment on May 28.
Ncube faces charges of contempt of court for allegedly failing to comply with a legally binding order requiring him to provide spousal maintenance.
Prosecuting, Mr Samuel Mpofu told the court that, according to official records, on October 26, 2023, the Bulawayo Maintenance Court ordered Ncube to pay spousal maintenance under case number M282/23. However, he is accused of defaulting on this order.
“It was further noted that he had failed to make any payments for six months, resulting in arrears amounting to US$6 550,” said Mr Mpofu.
The court had instructed Ncube to pay US$550 per month with effect from October 2023.
It also emerged during proceedings that Ncube is allegedly offering his wife a plot of land as an alternative to fulfilling his spousal support obligations.
Ncube, who was in a polygamous marriage, has six children with two wives.
He began his career as a hairdresser in Mathambo Village, Lupane and has since built one of the fastest-growing funeral service companies in the Southern African region.
Kingdom Blue Funeral Service was established using savings from his hairdressing business and has grown into a successful enterprise, with 12 branches in South Africa, 14 in Zimbabwe and one in Botswana.
