Long before Wicknell Chivayo married his second wife, Lucy ‘Lulu’ Muteke, there was Sonja Louise Madzikanda, a woman who occupied an important chapter in the Zimbabwean businessman’s life.
Chivayo and Sonja reportedly began their relationship years before his romance with Lucy. Together, they welcomed two children, John Chenjera and Atarah Minana, born in January 2018 and March 2019 respectively.
Unlike Chivayo, whose extravagant lifestyle has frequently made headlines, Sonja has generally maintained a relatively private life. However, their relationship occasionally spilled into the public domain, particularly when the couple encountered difficulties.
In 2018, Sonja publicly accused Chivayo of infidelity and mistreatment. Their relationship subsequently went through periods of tension, with Zimbabwean news outlets reporting that the couple had at one point blocked each other on social media.
Another controversy emerged following the birth of their son in the United States. Sonja explained that a paternity test had been conducted because her legal surname was still Madzikanda, while the child carried the Chivayo surname.
The relationship eventually broke down, leading to a prolonged dispute involving their children, finances and the question of their marital status.
The former couple’s separation later became a matter for the courts. In 2026, Chivayo argued that their customary union had already ended through the payment and acceptance of ‘gupuro’, a traditional token associated with divorce.
Their legal battles also involved the welfare and maintenance of their children.
In April 2026, the Zimbabwe High Court finalised a consent settlement under which Chivayo was to provide Sh645 million for the maintenance and investment of funds for their two children. Reports Sh283.8 million had already been paid, with the remaining Sh361.2 million to follow.
The settlement also addressed Chivayo’s access to his children.
But even after the financial agreement, questions surrounding the couple’s relationship continued. In June 2026, Sonja said on Instagram that the High Court had ruled that she and Chivayo had never been married, although reports noted that the written judgment had not yet been made publicly available at the time.
Chivayo later built a new relationship with Lucy Muteke, whom he married in 2025 in a glamorous wedding.
Sonja, meanwhile, remained permanently connected to the businessman through their two children.
Their story is therefore more complicated than a simple celebrity breakup. It is a chapter that began with love, grew into a family, encountered public disagreements and eventually became entangled in courtroom battles.
Sonja has been left with her two kids after Chivayo and Lucy lost their lives in a plane crash.