In a move that has garnered widespread approval, Amai Eunor Guti, the leader of ZAOGA Forward In Faith Ministries International and widow of the late Archbishop Ezekiel Guti, has declined a substantial donation from controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo. The gift, which included a brand new Toyota VXR Land Cruiser 300 series and US$250,000 in cash, was intended as an honour to the late Archbishop Guti.
Highly placed sources within the Pentecostal church have confirmed that Amai Guti turned down the offer.
The proposed donation caused quite a stir within ZAOGA’s leadership, with some reportedly seeing no issue in accepting the gift. However, Amai Guti has received praise online for refusing what many view as “dirty money” acquired through questionable means.
Chivayo made the donation last week, citing the late Ezekiel Guti as a source of support during difficult times. He also stated that the gift was well deserved because Guti “stood with the government at all times of bother.”
Chivayo took to social media to announce the gift, writing: “In honor of 100 years of UNMATCHED SERVICE to the body of Christ and in recognition of the SELFLESS COMMITMENT to the Gospel, to charity, to education, to health, and to building a better nation, I am PROFOUNDLY HUMBLED to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved mother, DR. EUNOR GUTI. Ordinarily, I would say, please go and see Farai, but Farai from Faramatsi Motors, Club Chambers Showroom, along 4th Street, will come to you and deliver your 2025 brand new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series VXR, which is fully paid for and ready for delivery, subject to the Church’s Governing Board’s consent. Furthermore, please accept USD250,000 in CASH for fuel and your personal use.”
Many implored Amai Guti to turn down the gift, with some church members even pledging to buy the vehicle themselves, arguing that Chivayo’s wealth was “tainted”.
A senior church official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the church’s position: “The church accepts and encourages people to give to their God. But they must do so following strictly the teachings from our father, which are all drawn from the word of God. The word of God is sufficient for us. It is the Kingdom of God with all the treasures in it. We are an indigenous church founded on the principle of righteousness. Our father, Professor Guti, was promoted to glory, but he left us with the Kingdom of God, which has everything that you can think of. The Kingdom of God is enough for us.”
A source from the Guti family told New Zimbabwe that the family itself received no direct communication from Chivayo regarding the proposed donation. “As a family, we did not receive any formal communication from Mr. Chivayo. We simply became aware of the offer through social media. The matter is neither here nor there. Honouring Baba Guti should be done in a manner that is pleasing to God. The church will respond in due course,” the source said.
Amai Guti is now the second prominent figure to decline such a lavish gift from Chivayo, following in the footsteps of legendary musician Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo, who also refused both a vehicle and a house.
The move stands in stark contrast to other influential figures, including Sungura star Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Dorcas Moyo, and Prophet Ian Ndlovu, who have all accepted Chivayo’s gifts, leaving them at the mercy of public scrutiny.
Critics have accused those who accepted Chivayo’s gifts of profiting from corruption while ordinary citizens suffer the consequences of failing social services, particularly public hospitals that have become little more than death traps.
The gifts include a state-of-the-art 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series VXR for Prophet Ndlovu himself, and a 2025 Toyota Fortuner 2.8D GD6 for his wife, Mrs. Ndlovu, to assist her in her philanthropic endeavours.
Chivayo praised Prophet Ndlovu for his unifying role in Zimbabwe’s spiritual landscape. “Through the Divine Kingdom Baptist Ministries, you have stood as a beacon of truth, unity and peace in the body of Christ. Your consistent calls for national prayer for our country’s leadership, regardless of political affiliation, is a mark of political maturity and spiritual integrity. What I admire most is that you never use the pulpit to sow division, but rather you have used it to foster dialogue and reconciliation.”
The businessman said that both vehicles worth US$280 000 are ready for collection at Faramatsi Motors in Harare. Additionally, he pledged US$100 000 towards the completion of the prophet’s church building and US$50 000 to support Mrs Ndlovu’s charitable initiatives.
Many Zimbabweans expected Prophet Ian Ndlovu to equally turn down the offer, the same way Dr Eunor Guti has rejected Chivayo’s gift.
“Ian Ndlovu is now Wicknell Chivayo’s sidechick,” Apostle Chiwenga stated. “Ian Ndlovu inzenza ya Wicknell Chivayo. You can’t quote John Chapter 3 and say ‘a man cannot receive anything except from God’. We know the scriptures that say they are prophesying for a bribe. What you received is not from above. That car is not from above. It came from Zanu-PF. Wicknell Chivayo was very clear, ‘everyone receiving cars from me, they must know it’s coming from Zanu-PF,” said Apostle Chiwenga.
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