Mnangagwa finally speaks on Wichnell Chivayo’s millions of cash, sharply disagrees with Chiwenga, urges victims to report him to police

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has publicly defended controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, dismissing allegations that he is acting as a proxy for the President, distributing vehicles and cash donations to curry favour, primarily within the ruling Zanu-PF party and the artistic community.

Mnangagwa’s defence of Chivayo as a “philanthropist” stands in stark contrast to the views of his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who appears to regard Chivayo as an unscrupulous businessman amassing wealth through dubious means.

Rumours have been circulating that Chivayo is being used by Mnangagwa to lavish gifts – ranging from luxury vehicles to more modest models – on strategic individuals, particularly artists, in an attempt to garner support for a potential presidential term extension, despite Mnangagwa’s repeated assurances that he will abide by the constitution and step down in 2028.

Addressing journalists at State House on Monday, Mnangagwa refuted claims that he is providing Chivayo with funds to distribute across the country at a time when the economy and social services are struggling.

“Where would I get the money to give him?” he questioned. “Investigate where you think I’m getting the money to give Chivayo to distribute, rather than wasting my time worrying about someone who is using his own money. You can’t bother me about someone who is philanthropic. If anyone’s money was stolen then they should report to the police.”

Chivayo has been observed distributing vehicles and cash across the country, even, on occasion, throwing banknotes into crowds, prompting desperate Zimbabweans to scramble for the money.

While Mnangagwa portrays Chivayo as a benevolent benefactor, Vice President Chiwenga views him in a distinctly different light. Addressing mourners at the National Shrine last month, Chiwenga, though not mentioning Chivayo by name, launched a veiled attack on his character, referring to him as a “chigananda”. Translated, this term implies someone who engages in dubious deals at the expense of others.

“Vision 2030 is for all of us, not those you refer to as mbinga. During the liberation struggle, we referred to those as zvigananda,” Chiwenga stated. “Zimbabwe belongs to all of us. We must share its God-given resources equally, ensuring that no one, including the vulnerable, the widowed, or the orphaned, is marginalized or pushed aside in a ruthless pursuit of undeserved privileges. Corruption must end.”

He further emphasized that corruption and greed contradict the values of the liberation struggle, which championed equitable resource distribution. Many interpreted this as a thinly veiled reference to Chivayo, who has been accused of amassing large sums from inflated state tenders.

In response to Chiwenga’s remarks, Chivayo declared that he would not be intimidated by threats from “failed politicians.” In a statement posted on his social media pages, Chivayo wrote: “I will always support President E.D. Mnangagwa and ZANU PF’s vision, and no individual, Big or Small, can instill fear in me to decide otherwise. I will neither be moved by nor shaken by any veiled threats from failed politicians.”

Adding to the controversy, Chivayo has publicly voiced his support on X (formerly Twitter) for Mnangagwa’s presidential term extension, arguing that the Zanu-PF leader’s vision must be supported, not derailed.

Chivayo, a beneficiary of controversial government deals, has praised Mnangagwa for having done “exceptionally well”. “This development in the USA got me deeply reflecting on our beloved Country, where H. E. President Mnangagwa has demonstrated remarkable leadership. In my opinion, when a leader is delivering exceptional results, their presidency should not be cut short, especially if the people overwhelmingly support his continued leadership. Even the opposition in Zimbabwe, despite being fragmanted, recently agreed to this concept,” Chivayo stated in a social media post.

“In my view, a performing President like President E.D must be allowed to complete his vision for the nation. The will of the people should always be at the core of democracy. As we have seen in the U.S.A, policy inconsistencies caused by frequent leadership changes disrupt national progress,” he added.

Despite Chivayo’s support, Mnangagwa has, on numerous occasions, publicly rejected the idea of a term extension. On Monday, he reiterated to state media editors that he would not seek to remain in office beyond 2028.

The situation has also drawn criticism from within Zanu-PF. Outspoken Central Committee member and war veteran Blessed Geza, now wanted by the police after demanding Mnangagwa’s resignation due to alleged corruption, has also turned his attention to Chivayo. Geza has questioned the source of Chivayo’s wealth, implicitly pointing the finger at Mnangagwa and suggesting his actions are a diversionary tactic.

It is worth noting that Chivayo has a previous conviction for money laundering. In 2005, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended, in connection with a case involving R837,000, which was linked to the proceeds of a crime.

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