Flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo marked President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 84th birthday with fresh pledges of support, extending a pattern of high-profile donations that has deepened his ties to the ruling Zanu PF elite.
In a social media post yesterday, Chivayo pledged a total of US$2 million to 40 families of fallen national heroes.
Chivayo stated that supporting the welfare and upkeep of the surviving spouses and children of liberation icons was a more meaningful gesture than buying an expensive personal gift for the President.
Each family is set to receive US$50,000 in cash.
The families include that of the late Vice Presidents Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda, Joseph Msika and John Landa Nkomo.
The development comes as Chivayo claims to have secured “US$9 billion contracts from across Africa and other deals with Western conglomerates”, which he says finance his lavish lifestyle.
Mnangagwa has repeatedly praised the Intratrek Zimbabwe boss’s philanthropic work, and Chivayo’s growing visibility has seen him described as a “de facto political commissar and special envoy” as he builds regional networks with continental leaders.
Chivayo, who owns IMC Communications and Intratrek Zimbabwe, has become one of Zimbabwe’s most visible donors.
- Muckracker: Leaving no Wicknell behind!
- Starlink saga: Chivayo clashes with Mnangagwa sons
- Zim businessman, philanthropist acquires top Africa media firm
- Unique Gear Fashions bags Gold award
Keep Reading
Last year, he gave US$1 million towards the construction of two hostels at his former Dudley Hall Primary School in honour of Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia, as well as a US$250,000 bus.
He has also donated cars and cash to musicians, politicians and religious leaders and forged a very close relationship with the 84 year-old and other ruling elites across Africa.
He says his philanthropy totals nearly US$200 million and that Fortune Africa Magazine recognised him as one of Africa’s top philanthropists.
In August, Chivayo told local podcast The DennyJ Show that he would continue donating after Mnangagwa had “endorsed the process”.
“I have got contracts from across Africa and worth well over US$9 billion, and mainly in infrastructural development, and I am in partnership with some European conglomerates and from China,” Chivayo said.
He added that in “all the important African countries that I would want to do business in, I am well in touch with the leadership and key people, but now want to expand my Western footprint and America in particular”.
“Connections are very important in any business, but competency is also required because if you get a contract you gotta deliver on it,” he said.
Apart from the rumoured US$2.9 billion Jomo Kenyatta International Airport expansion tender, Chivayo has several other deals in Eswatini, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and other countries, according to the account.
His car distributions have been compared to international celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey.
The IMC Communications owner has said he will “continue giving after Mnangagwa’s endorsement – and encouragement – of the process”.
While Chivayo is better known for his car-gifting exploits and based on his “hustler’s mentality that a good car is a necessity”, the Intratrek boss says he has donated nearly US$200 million and to an extent that he was recognised by Fortune Africa Magazine as one of the continent’s top philanthropists.He has acquired private jets including a Gulfstream 550 and Bombardier Challenger 300, and mansions in South Africa’s affluent Sandhurst and Cape Town’s Clifton.
He has also built a formidable network that includes African presidents such as Mnangagwa, Kenya’s William Ruto, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he frequently meets.
