Robert Mugabe’s Hidden Heir: The Story Behind the Abandoned Inheritance Case
Tonderai Mugabe, a man who claimed to be the secret son of the late President Robert Mugabe, has withdrawn his lawsuit seeking a share of the former leader’s estate.
The High Court dismissed his case due to procedural errors, including missing the statutory deadline to challenge the estate’s distribution. Justice Chitapi ruled that adopting the Mugabe surname did not legally establish him as a descendant.
Tonderai had alleged that his mother, Hilda Maeka, was romantically involved with Mugabe during the liberation war, resulting in his birth. He claimed that his paternity was kept secret to protect his mother from Mugabe’s wife, Sally Mugabe.
Despite the court’s decision, the Mugabe family has reportedly accepted Tonderai as a relative following DNA tests confirming a 99.99% probability of paternity.