Econet Employee Blows $30,000 on Girlfriend, Now Battles Wife Over Property

Harare – A dramatic court showdown has exposed how a former Econet employee allegedly squandered his entire US$30,000 severance package on a girlfriend, only to return home broke and attempt to reclaim control over family properties.

Hillary Madzvimbo, who recently left his job at Econet, sought a protection order against his wife, Caroline Madzvimbo, accusing her of illegally seizing their shared property and withholding his important documents.

But his desperate legal maneuver backfired spectacularly—the presiding magistrate Ms. Meenal Narotam dismissed his application, ruling that there were no grounds for a protection order and that the dispute over two family houses in Eastview should be resolved in another court.

Husband Claims Wife Seized Everything

Madzvimbo, visibly frustrated in court, claimed his wife had locked him out of their properties, renting them out without his consent while also keeping his personal documents—including his driver’s license—out of his reach.

“My wife claims she is in charge of the two houses, but I do not have access to either property because she has put tenants in both,” he told the court.

He further alleged that Mrs. Madzvimbo was collecting rent behind his back and misusing the money, leaving him with no source of income.

Wife Fires Back: “He Blew the Money on His Girlfriend”

But in a stunning counterargument, Mrs. Madzvimbo painted a completely different picture—one in which her husband was the real villain.

She flatly denied that the properties were built after he received his Econet severance package, saying they were already owned before he resigned. She further claimed that she needed rental income to support their children because her husband was now jobless.

Then came the bombshell:

“The rest of that money was squandered by his girlfriend while he was living with her,” she told the court.

Mrs. Madzvimbo revealed that her husband moved in with another woman after leaving his job and wasted tens of thousands of dollars, leaving his family behind without financial support.

Court Rejects Husband’s Plea

After hearing both sides, Magistrate Narotam ruled that Mr. Madzvimbo had filed the wrong application in the wrong court and that his grievances regarding the properties needed to be addressed elsewhere.

The ruling left Madzvimbo empty-handed—both his attempt to legally force his way back into the houses and regain control of their rental income failed.

What’s Next?

With US$30,000 gone, a broken marriage, and a property dispute still unresolved, Madzvimbo now faces an uphill legal battle to regain anything from what once was his severance package.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Madzvimbo continues to hold the keys—both to the properties and the financial stability of their children.

The case serves as a harsh lesson about reckless spending, misplaced priorities, and the consequences of burning bridges at home.