Spouse hiding assets during divorce in Zimbabwe

There is a need for full and frank disclosure of all material facts and assets of parties who are considering divorce in Zimbabwe. There is a worrying and growing number of spouses hiding assets during divorce proceedings in Zimbabwe. Where a party conceals his or her assets during divorce proceedings in Zimbabwe, the court is entitled to award to the other party the remaining property which is proved to be assets of the spouses. There is no clear or distinct pronouncement that has been made by the superior courts on spouses hiding assets during divorce in Zimbabwe. The closest case is that of Coumbis v Coumbis 2021 (1) ZLR 308 (S) where the Supreme Court held that:

“It must be emphasised that, where a spouse acts in contempt of court orders distributing their assets, hides some of the assets, lies about his or her ownership of some of the property and deliberately resorts to self-help, the court is entitled to award to the other spouse the remaining property proved to be assets of the spouses. It is my view that the properties in which the first respondent has disclosed his shareholding should be awarded to the appellant on the basis of his ownership of those shares. It is also important to note that the first respondent’s sale and stripping of assets during the pendency of this appeal in defiance of the court a quo’s order entitles the appellant to compensation for the loses she has suffered as a result of the respondent’s conduct.”