Sir Wicknell: Zim businessman ties his fortunes to Mnangagwa

Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has woven himself into the personal spaces of numerous African heads of state, visiting Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Malawi's Lazarus Chakwera and his successor, Peter Mutharika, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, Nigeria's Bola Tinubu, and Kenyan President William Ruto.

- Lenin Ndebele

Apart from photo sessions and light moments, nothing much has been said about the reasons for the visits. He posts about his regular visits on his social media pages, but does not let much out, leaving it to speculation. Chivayo refused to answer questions from the Mail & Guardian about his links with African leaders.

The life story of the self-styled “Sir Wicknell” is a modern tale of hustle, where wealth, proximity to political power, philanthropy and controversy are intertwined.

Since August 2023, after Zimbabwe’s general elections which gave President Emmerson Mnangagwa his second and last constitutional term, Chivayo has been at the centre of money and power.

In a series of extravagant gestures that drew attention, he went on a gifting spree, distributing dozens of vehicles to musicians, prophets, sports legends and political figures. A rough count puts the value of all cars donated to date — including Rolls-Royces and Bentleys — at over $10 million. Chivayo has also given cash gifts averaging around $200 000 and some as high as $1 million, as in the case of the Zion Christian Church.