Solomon Mujuru died a 'pauper'

In a stunning revelation likely to stump the enemies of ex-Vice President Joice Mujuru, the executor of her late husband Solomon Mujuru's estate says it is in debt to the tune of $2 million-plus.

This also comes amid reports that the ex-liberation fighter's family has not been involved in the administration of the estate and in a development, which also dampens claims that the popular politician had a multi-billion dollar fortune.

According to an interim report by the estate's executor Stern Mufara, Mujuru's "most prized asset" was his Hogerty Hill matrimonial home - worth $350 000 - and which he shared with his widow Joice, the former Zanu-PF and national vice president.

"I advise that we are attending to evaluations. I shall soon be meeting to discuss the affairs of this estate with a view to file the first interim administration and distribution account," the Nyika, Kanengoni & Partners (NKP) staffer wrote to the High Court master on June 12.

Apart from the Borrowdale property, Mujuru's other listed assets include interests in publicly-traded and private companies as well as immovable properties in, and around the capital worth an estimated $1,5 to $2 million.

While the report lists a parcel of one million African Sun shares, a paltry 22 in Merzig Enterprises, 391 Ruwa Golf Resort Holdings shares, 4 430 in Zimbabwe Motor Assemblers and Distributors, and shares in Oriel Pharmacy, some of his immovable assets were given as a Marondera house valued at $100 000, a Bindura stand worth $80 000, livestock and farm equipment at Ruzambo Farm, which is yet to be valued.

"My second report, and hopefully my last, will deal with the remainder of the property after compilation of the inventory viz-a-viz the movable property at Ruzambu… and Rylance," Mufara said.

Mujuru's holdings also included a stand in Shamva, Warren Park and a flat at the rundown Gail Court in Harare's Samora Machel Avenue.

In the meantime, Mufara's listings also include a 100 percent share in Kalmic Investments, Kumirinje Farms, Rylance, Kuphikile Resources (Kuphikile) and Thurlow & Company (Thurlow), although the latter two have long ceased to operate.

While Kuphikile - a 50 percent joint venture with Tirivanhu Mudariki - was a minority shareholder in liquidated River Ranch Mines, Thurlow was a retail operator, which was closed in the 80s. And with Ruzambu registered under Joice's name in terms of its 99 year lease, and claims against the estate - from Agribank, Hanagwe (Private) Limited and others - mounting, it is likely that the Beatrice farm will also be inherited by the former VP and just as it cannot form part of the estate.

Like the Mashonaland East farm, most of the property - about 50 percent of the estate - will be taken by the beleaguered widow, as this is in accordance with the marriage law. Under Zimbabwean laws, heroes are also exempt from paying tax, so the debt-ridden estate is safe from that front.

While a Ruwa joint Plaka Tarven had been listed among Mujuru's assets, it turns out that it was jointly run by Zimbabwe Prison Services boss Paradzai Zimondi under a lease.

Amid suggestions that the liberation struggle stalwart had amassed a multi-billion dollar fortune in the region of $9 to $25 billion, the current findings - if not numbers - have shown that the late General was a man of modest means.

Like Mujuru himself, the handling of his estate has been marked by serious controversy around the number of likely beneficiaries - given his alleged brood - and the choice of executors, especially given that NKP's forerunner George Chikumbirike & Associates used to do some work for one of Zanu-PF's top leaders.

While the anti-Joice Mujuru lobby was hoping to use the issue of Solomon Mujuru's estate to galvanise the view that the Mujurus were corrupt, Mufara's report has stumped many as the figures are diametrically at odds with the loose talk within the ruling party.