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Mathew Masinge
A WOMAN, whose divorce to a top Harare consultant has been granted by the High Court, chose to leave her estranged husband with a US$350 000 house in Quinnington because she felt he has a sentimental attachment to the property.
The High Court granted a divorce between Audrey Chatikobo, nee Mangezi, and Michael Chatikobo, who had been married for 25 years.
Audrey also let Michael take custody of three vehicles while she retains her Hyundai Creta.
She was praised by the judge as an “honest and generous” person.
The two were married on September 3, 1994, in terms of the then Marriage Act (Chapter 37) now (Chapter 5:17).
In her papers, Audrey said she had lost all her love and affection and there were no prospects that she might get back together with Michael.
Properties listed in the divorce settlement include a house in Quinnington, a garden flat in Newlands and flat 3 at Alpha House along Kwame Nkruma Avenue.
She also included four vehicles — a Mercedes Benz, an Isuzu Truck, a Toyota Vitz and a Hyundai Creta and her shares in Radnet (Pvt) Ltd, a company she co-directs.
Audrey prayed that she be awarded the Newlands semi-detached single-story garden flat where she has been staying with her two children, who are now majors.
The property has an estimated cost above US$160 000.
She awarded the Quinnington house with an estimated cost of more than US$350 000 to Michael saying the property holds sentimental value to him since he inherited it from his late father.
Michael agreed that his wife retains furniture at the Newlands flat while he retains the same at his Quinnington property.
He said he solely developed the Borrowdale property after selling the Alpha House flat and demanded 50 percent from the Newlands flat saying they acquired it as a couple.
In a finding, Justice Neville Wamambo noted that Audrey was honest and generous.
“I note here that the tenor of her evidence was such that besides opting for the Newlands flat she was open minded and even generous to forgo any claim towards the Quinnington home and its furniture.
“She opted for one car out of the rest of the cars. I found her, on the whole, an honest witness. Not so for the defendant.
“I find that the parties also need a clean break and each to continue in their separate lives.
“A decree of divorce be and is hereby granted. Audrey be and is hereby awarded as her sole and exclusive property, 17 Windsor Avenue Newlands, Harare and the household goods and effects contained therein.
“Michael be and is hereby awarded as his sole and exclusive property, Lot 2 of subdivision E of Borrowdale Estate, measuring 4071 square meters and the household goods and effects contained therein,” ruled the judge.
The judge also ruled that Michael had no right to claim anything from Audrey’s shares in Radnet.
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