Supreme Court Defeat for Lawyer Mupindu as Magistrate Wife Restored to Family Trust.

The Supreme Court has upheld a High Court ruling reinstating magistrate Sandra Mupindu as a trustee of a family trust, dealing a fresh blow to her estranged husband, prominent Harare lawyer Simon Mupindu, in a long-running and highly publicized legal feud. In dismissing an appeal by Simon Mupindu and his co-appellants, the apex court confirmed that the removal of the magistrate from the Shamba Charashika Bvumavaranda Trust and the appointment of Simon's new partner, Catherine Tatenda Chitopota, were unlawful and procedurally defective.

The Supreme Court agreed with the lower court's finding that Mupindu's ouster as trustee was fundamentally flawed, endorsing the conclusion that it was done without her knowledge or consent and in breach of the trust deed. "The removal of the applicant as a trustee was not procedurally done," the court said, echoing the High Court's reasoning. "The appointment of the third respondent as a trustee was not procedurally done either. The applicant is entitled to the declaratory order sought."

The dispute arises from a bitter fallout between the couple, who are in the midst of a contested divorce after Simon Mupindu left his wife for Chitopota, a former intern at his law firm. Simon, who filed for divorce, is now living with Chitopota, with whom he has three children.

Sandra Mupindu told the courts that her husband secretly amended the trust deed in 2023, removing her as trustee and replacing her with Chitopota, allegedly appending her signature fraudulently to documents authorizing the changes. She further alleged that two properties held under the trust were sold without her involvement.