Executors Open Mphoko Estate for Claims as Administration Begins

Executors open late Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s estate for public claims, inviting creditors and beneficiaries to submit particulars (image source)

BULAWAYO — The estate of the late former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has been formally opened for administration, with executors inviting creditors, beneficiaries, and interested parties to submit claims and particulars against the estate ahead of its final settlement.

According to a public notice issued by Mphoko’s widow and legal representatives, the call for claims marks the beginning of a comprehensive estate inventory process that will document all assets, liabilities, and dependent interests. The notice outlines a deadline for submissions, ensuring all debts and obligations are properly recorded before lawful distribution to beneficiaries.

Mphoko, who passed away in New Delhi on December 6 last year, left behind a diverse estate that includes residential properties, personal assets, and investments. Executors stressed that the claims window is a standard legal procedure designed to ensure transparency and accountability during estate administration. They added that all claims will undergo verification and ranking according to statutory requirements, with creditors required to provide documentation to substantiate their entitlements.

Estate counsel confirmed that administrators will follow succession law priorities, discharging debts before distributing any residual assets to beneficiaries. Interested parties have been advised to submit detailed claims supported by written contracts, receipts, or affidavits where formal documentation is lacking.

The public notice also comes amid heightened public and family interest in the handling of Mphoko’s estate, given his stature as a liberation-era figure and former senior government official. Sources close to the family said the formal process aims to prevent disputes and speculation regarding property ownership, burial arrangements, and other inheritance issues by ensuring due process through the courts.

Once the claims period closes, executors will begin settling verified liabilities and compiling final accounts for submission to the Master of the High Court. Beneficiaries will be notified as the estate moves into its distribution phase, subject to the resolution of any disputes that may arise during probate.

Legal experts urged potential claimants to act promptly, noting that failure to submit claims within the prescribed period could limit recovery rights later, though limited legal remedies may still exist in exceptional cases.

The orderly administration of Mphoko’s estate is expected to proceed under normal probate procedures, paving the way for a transparent and legally compliant distribution of the former vice president’s assets.