Harare – A sensational love triangle involving Dr. David Madzikanda, a prominent Harare business executive and academic, has erupted into a public court battle, drawing in his wife, Mutseriwa Madzikanda, and his alleged mistress, Millicent Murape. The scandal, which includes accusations of cyberbullying, property damage, and even witchcraft, has garnered significant attention, not least due to Dr. Madzikanda’s connection as the father-in-law of controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
The dramatic saga unfolded in a Harare magistrate’s court, where Millicent Murape, a former tenant of the Madzikanda household, now faces charges under the Cyber and Data Transmission Act, alongside allegations of malicious damage to property. The core of the dispute centres on Murape’s alleged boasts of replacing Mutseriwa as Dr. Madzikanda’s primary partner and taking over the marital home.
The Unravelling of a Domestic Affair
Mutseriwa Madzikanda, who identifies herself as one of Dr. Madzikanda’s wives, initiated the legal proceedings against Millicent Murape. According to court documents, the conflict escalated when Mutseriwa began receiving a barrage of abusive WhatsApp messages from Murape’s phone number. The initial messages were sent on the evening of 5th July 2025, followed by another set on 6th July 2025. Mutseriwa, however, chose not to respond to these communications.
Central to Mutseriwa’s claims are Murape’s alleged taunts, which included proclamations of her new status within Dr. Madzikanda’s life. Mutseriwa told the court that Millicent, in her abusive messages, allegedly claimed she was now transforming from a tenant and taking over as Dr. Madzikanda’s wife. She further claimed Millicent allegedly boasted in her messages that she would soon become the boss and landlady at the property. These statements paint a picture of a calculated takeover, moving from a tenant-landlord relationship to one of romantic entanglement and domestic dominance.
Beyond the verbal assaults, Murape is also accused of physical aggression. Mutseriwa alleges that Millicent used stones to break window panes at her house, adding a layer of property damage to the cyberbullying charges. Millicent Murape appeared before Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki to answer to these serious accusations.
Witchcraft Claims and Marital Complexities
The court proceedings took a bizarre turn with the introduction of witchcraft accusations. Mutseriwa testified that Murape accused her of bewitching her, claiming she had placed traditional charms on her doorstep to cause a miscarriage. Mutseriwa recounted, “She accused me of bewitching her by saying that l placed a charm on her doorsteps so that she would miscarry her pregnancy (and lose) Dr Madzikanda’s child.” This grave accusation highlights the deeply personal and emotionally charged nature of the dispute.
Mutseriwa also shed light on the complexities of her marriage to Dr. Madzikanda, revealing that he has four other wives, including some from the “touchline.” Despite the polygamous nature of her marriage, Mutseriwa insisted that her decision to report Murape to the police was not motivated by jealousy but by a need for self-protection. When prosecutor Polite Chikiwa questioned her about potential jealousy, Mutseriwa firmly stated, “I cannot have problem with Dr Madzikanda sleeping with some people’s wives, his problem is that he is searching for a son as he only has daughters. Even if he goes to the touchline, I don’t care.” She added, “Murape used to call my husband while she had her husband because she didn’t want to pay rent. I am surprised why she want to sleep with a 65-year-old man when her age type are many.”
A Confrontation and a Protection Order
Mutseriwa recounted a particularly tense encounter when she went to Murape’s apartment to confront her about the abusive messages. To her surprise, she found Dr. Madzikanda inside Murape’s apartment. “I know Murape had her husband and l was surprised to see my husband Dr Madzikanda inside her room in the middle of the day when he was supposed to be at work,” Mutseriwa told the court. She further claimed, “I waited at the door for one hour and when they came out l tried to talk to them but they refused to talk.” This incident underscores the brazenness of the affair and the apparent disregard for Mutseriwa’s feelings.
Following this confrontation and the continued harassment, Mutseriwa sought legal recourse by obtaining a peace order against Murape. However, this provided only temporary respite. Mutseriwa testified that after the expiry of the peace order, Murape sent her another abusive message, indicating a persistent pattern of harassment.
Millicent Murape’s Defence
In her defence, Millicent Murape presented a contrasting narrative. She told the court that she and Mutseriwa are both girlfriends to Dr. David Madzikanda, suggesting a more equal footing in the love triangle than Mutseriwa’s portrayal. Murape accused Mutseriwa of stalking her and attempting to damage her reputation. She also claimed that Mutseriwa had called her a prostitute, alleging that this was driven by jealousy over her relationship with the elderly doctor. Murape vehemently denied throwing stones or breaking any window panes at Mutseriwa’s residence, directly refuting the malicious damage to property charge.
The Prominent Figure: Dr. David Madzikanda
Dr. David Madzikanda is not an obscure figure in Zimbabwe. He is a well-known business executive and academic, currently serving as the Board Chair of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA). His professional background includes extensive experience as an engineer, with 17 years in the electricity sector and 20 years in academia. He is also an academic and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, where he has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Business Management Sciences and Economics. His public profile as a strategic leader and academic adds another layer of intrigue to this deeply personal scandal.
The Wicknell Chivayo Connection
The scandal gains further prominence through Dr. Madzikanda’s familial ties to Wicknell Chivayo, a controversial Zimbabwean businessman known for his flamboyant lifestyle and frequent appearances in the media. Dr. Madzikanda is the father-in-law of Chivayo, whose ex-wife is Sonja Madzikanda. This connection inevitably links the domestic dispute to a broader narrative of high-profile individuals and their personal lives playing out in the public eye.
Interestingly, Wicknell Chivayo himself has been embroiled in recent legal battles concerning his divorce from Sonja Madzikanda. In April 2026, Chivayo reportedly agreed to pay his ex-wife, Sonja Louise Madzikanda, a substantial $5 million for child maintenance in a high-stakes marital dispute. Furthermore, Sonja Madzikanda and her mother, Tabitha Madzikanda, faced charges related to allegedly publishing AI-generated photographs of Chivayo with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. These charges were later withdrawn. The Madzikanda family, therefore, is no stranger to public scrutiny and legal entanglements, adding a complex backdrop to the current scandal involving Dr. David Madzikanda.
The Ongoing Legal Battle
The matter involving Mutseriwa Madzikanda and Millicent Murape has been postponed, with Dr. David Madzikanda himself expected to testify in court. His testimony is anticipated to be crucial in shedding further light on the intricate details of this love triangle and the accusations exchanged between the two women. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly be closely watched, not only for its legal implications but also for the continued public fascination with the personal lives of prominent figures and their families.