State Media|ZANU-PF commercial enterprise, M and S Syndicate (Private) Limited, has contested the registration of three upmarket properties as part of the late former President Robert Mugabe’s estate.

The Mugabes villa — known as Blue Roof — in Harare’s elite suburb of Helensvale, Borrowdale, and another house where their daughter Mrs Bona Chikore lives, known as number 27 Quorn Avenue, Mt Pleasant as well as number 129 Forbes Road, Waterfalls — are registered in the name of M and S Syndicate.

The properties are mentioned as part of the late leader’s estate in the declaration filed at the Master of the High Court by the Mugabe family, recently.

The company, through its lawyers Chihambakwe, Mutizwa and Associates yesterday, set the record straight on the status of the three properties.

“These properties still belong to the company and at the moment they do not form part of the estate of the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe,” said Mr Simplisius Chihambakwe, a senior partner at the law firm.

The objection to registration of the properties with the Master of High Court came as Mrs Chikore was appointed executor of her late father’s estate during a private edict meeting held yesterday.

The appointment was undisputed. She now has the task to gather all the assets of the late liberation icon for purposes of compiling the final list for the desolution of the estate.

Mugabe’s widow Mrs Grace Mugabe, Mrs Chikore and her husband Mr Simba Chikore and an unidentified lady attended the edict meeting.

Also in attendance was the family lawyer Mr Terence Hussein of Hussein, Ranchhod and Company, who confirmed the edict meeting took place, saying it was conducted in a suave manner.

“In terms of the law, the Master calls a meeting of the late president’s very close relatives and children to appoint an executor, like what we did here today (Thursday).

“Surprise, surprise, the apple of his eye and one and only favourite daughter Bona Mugabe-Chikore has been appointed the executor of the late former president Robert Mugabe’s estate,” he said.

The job of the executor is to compile the list of assets and liabilities of the deceased.

Once that is done, a distribution account will be compiled which will list what is there on the ground (both the credit and debit side).

Rusell Goreraza is Mrs Mugabe’s son from her first marriage.

Commenting on reports that some of the properties such as Gushungo Dairy were not listed, Mr Hussein said: “Nobody can own the entire company but can only own shares. So Mugabe did not own Gushungo Dairy Pvt Ltd. It is owned by the Mugabe family.”

Mr Hussein dismissed as hearsay, reports that the former President owned properties in Dubai.

The lawyer, however, conceded that the upmarket Bluer Roof mansion was registered in the ruling party’s name and hailed Government and Zanu-PF for promising to transfer the ownership into Cde Mugabe’s name.

“It’s worthy to acknowledge what Government did on the Blue Roof property. It promised to transfer the ownership into Mugabe’s name despite the fact that he no longer exists. Also including the other house in Mt Pleasant.

“All the papers are being processed right now,” said Mr Hussein.

Mugabe died at the age of 95 in September this year in Singapore where he had been receiving treatment.