There was drama at the Master of the High Court’s offices on Monday as relatives of the late rapist Robert Martin Gumbura fought in vain against his 17 wives over the appointment of the executor of his estate.
Gumbura’s 17 widows represented by Lovemore Madhuku were in favour of their nephew Chivimbiso Thomas Nyathi as the executor of the estate, while other family members that include the cleric’s brothers and sisters were allegedly in favour of Gumbura’s young brother, Innocent.
The hearing before the assistant master of the High Court dragged on from morning until lunchtime with the wives winning the battle.
Gumbura’s brother insisted that he is the rightful executor since he is playing the role of father to the late pastor’s children.
The master assured him that the appointment of another executor does not necessarily mean that he will be stripped of his roles as the father.
Gumbura succumbed to COVID-19 in August this year after serving less than five years of his 40-year prison term for raping several female congregants.
The late cleric was serving his jail sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, where he died, leaving behind a vast empire.
He left behind 17 wives, 34 children and an estate comprising a compound that includes a central home, multiple surrounding cottages and a church building.
Reports say he has 11 houses in total. Gumbura also owned a farm, a mine and a fleet of 20 vehicles. A total of 18 children left behind by Gumbura are minors and the youngest aged 7.
