No one can cease speaking in regards to the self-styled knight gifting away automobiles

[ad_1] Shingai Nyoka BBC Information, Harare

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/18c8/live/d52ef8b0-4e9e-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC A minibus taxi in traffic in Harare with its back painted with a big portrait of Sir Wicknell in a green long-sleeve top with polo players on its front. The vehicle's side panel has the words 'Sir Wicky' painted on it in red." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> BBC "Sir Wicknell", who began out as a wages clerk for a bus agency, has grow to be such a star that his face is adorning minibus taxis

A flashy tycoon in Zimbabwe has a nation entranced - some beguiled, others alarmed - by his behavior of gifting away automobiles together with wads of money to these he deems patriotic - even presenting them to these he has by no means met.

Mercedes-Benzes, Toyota SUVs, Vary Rovers are Wicknell Chivayo's autos of selection for the recipients, who vary from music stars, down-at-heel gospel singers, footballers, church leaders and people loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF get together.

The controversial 44-year-old is himself a fan of a white Royals Royce and has a fleet of personalised luxurious automobiles, a few of which he has additionally began gifting away as he will get in newer fashions.

For years "Sir Wicknell", as he calls himself, has liked to boast about his riches through Instagram - particulars the tabloids lap up - however whereas he's open about how he spends his cash, he's much less so about how he makes it as he faces scrutiny over the supply of his wealth in a rustic the place life is a each day battle for most individuals.

Within the final 12 months or so his social media account has additionally been awash with posts about his donations.

They observe an analogous sample: a photograph of a gleaming automotive with balloons tied to it - generally with a giant bow on its bonnet - is accompanied with a message of congratulations to somebody with directions about the place they need to acquire it, normally from one among numerous luxurious automotive dealerships he makes use of within the capital, Harare.

"Please GO AND SEE VICTOR at EXQUISITE MOTORS, your model new 2025 Vary Rover Autobiography is FULLY PAID FOR and prepared for assortment," he advised prime musician Jah Prayzah final month, including that $150,000 (£111,000) in money was additionally awaiting him there.

"That is only a small token of my gratitude in your IMMENSE contribution to Zimbabwean music and your patriotism in uniting hundreds of individuals by means of music, preaching PEACE, preaching LOVE and preaching UNITY in each track."

The quantity of his "public gifting" has grow to be virtually frenzied - he even reposts humorous memes about it. On social media, Zanu-PF accounts have been lavishing him in reward, commending his philanthropy.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9a7a/live/5f8e82a0-4ea9-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Jah Prayzah, wears shades, a black hat and in a yellow tweed-like top, as he sings holding a microphone in a BBC studio in 2021" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> The Vary Rover given to Zimbabwean Afrobeats star Jah Prayzah had a personalised quantity plate together with his nickname "Wagwizi"

In personal Sir Wicknell - as everybody is aware of him - has additionally dished out homes and examine scholarships to followers of his apostolic church, the Zion Christian Church, recognized for his or her white clothes and worshipping open air.

The softly spoken, heavy-set businessman has come to symbolise Zimbabwe's rising "flex tradition" - the will to flash one's wealth in individual and on-line.

"$hopping and spending cash are simply a few of my hobbies," he wrote in 2013, when he first began on Instagram, subsequent to a lodge trolley filled with his purchases.

This was adopted not lengthy after by the quip: "Rattling being wealthy is a headache at occasions" and a photograph of his huge shoe assortment as he tried to resolve whether or not to put on a pair of Louis Vuittons or Salvatore Ferragamos.

And so it has continued, with holidays to Dubai, New York, Paris, London and enterprise journeys to Johannesburg, Shanghai and New Delhi - and most lately posts about his new personal jet.

He additionally likes to show his proximity to energy - posting photographs of himself with politicians, from Zimbabwe's late President Robert Mugabe and his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa to, extra lately, different African leaders resembling Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan and Kenya's William Ruto.

"He's very hands-on together with his companies dealings, very a lot on the bottom and holding tabs on how each cent is spent," a businessman, who has beforehand handled Mr Chivayo and requested to stay nameless, advised the BBC.

"It is clear that he's politically protected," he mentioned.

In Cry Havoc, the late British mercenary and coup plotter Simon Mann's 2011 memoir of his time incarcerated in Zimbabwe's Chikurubi Most Jail, the previous British military officer mentioned his "well-educated" fellow inmate Wicknell warned him by no means to criticise Zanu-PF.

The pair have been in the identical cell block - Mann serving 4 years for his function in a failed coup try in Equatorial Guinea in 2004 and Chivayo a few years for fraud.

"In Africa the unsolicited reward is massively highly effective," Mann quoted him as saying - a seemingly prophetic remark.

Between them they paid in cigarettes for the providers of a prisoner, serving 94 years for armed theft, to do their laundry. Mann mentioned Chivayo insisted on referring to him as their "butler".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/eedb/live/720af520-4ea0-11f0-a466-d54f65b60deb.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP/Getty Images Simon Mann, the leader of the group of foreigners arrested in Zimbabwe for plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea, is pictured in 2004 in a prison yard. He has wire-rimmed oval glasses on, sports a beard - and like the other prisoners seen in the background, is wearing khaki. An officer in a grey uniform with a peak hat can also been seen in the background." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> AFP/Getty Pictures Whereas in jail for fraud, Wicknell Chivayo struck up a friendship with British mercenary and coup plotter Simon Mann, providing him recommendation

The 2 remained buddies with Sir Wicknell posting a smiling photograph of them collectively in 2013 - a 12 months that appears to have been a turning level for him.

It was when, in addition to taking to Instagram, his firm Intratrek Zimbabwe and a Chinese language agency gained a young to construct a solar energy plant price $172.8m.

However the mission later turned embroiled in fraud allegations - court docket information a number of years later state that Intratrek had been paid an advance to start work on the 100MW plant in Gwanda however did not ship as anticipated to the state-owned Zimbabwe Energy Firm (ZPC).

He in flip sued ZPC for cancelling its contact over the dispute. He gained that case and was later acquitted of all of the prison costs.

Sir Wicknell is media shy, has spoken of his dislike of journalists and politely declined my request for an interview.

However on a uncommon outing on a breakfast radio present final 12 months, he was requested immediately how he made his cash.

In bashful tones, he mentioned his primary enterprise was authorities tenders secured with international companions within the areas of renewable vitality, engineering procurement, building and energy tasks. He mentioned he additionally had companies in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania.

Late final 12 months, his firm IMC Communications was licensed because the accomplice for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite tv for pc web service supplier.

On Instagram, he has been way more brash about his "Midas contact" - saying he's a "hustler" who works arduous. He additionally attributes his success as a "self-made millionaire" to his humble background rising up Harare's satellite tv for pc township of Chitungwiza, the place his household struggled after his father died when he was aged 10.

He tends to repost "throw-back" photographs to his late teenagers when by means of a household pal he acquired a job as a wages clerk at a bus firm. "I keep in mind I used to be the one one my age with a mobile phone in Chitungwiza," he has mentioned about his hard-working ethic.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/560a/live/164cb640-4ea2-11f0-8c47-237c2e4015f5.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A man reading The Standard newspaper from early May with a photo of Wicknell Chivayo standing between Kenya's President William Ruto (L) and Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa (R)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Concern has been raised about Wicknell Chivayo's shut hyperlinks to highly effective politicians - pictured right here in Might between President Ruto and President Mnangagwa

An avowed Zanu-PF supporter he has beforehand attributed his success to the get together's empowerment coverage, which was launched in 2013 and compelled all corporations to cede financial management to black Zimbabweans.

Some see him as a profitable instance of this indigenisation coverage, creating a brand new class of black businessmen, however others imagine a few of his wealth is a results of corruption and murky relationships with these in energy – which he vehemently denies.

Questioned in February about Sir Wicknell's predilection for gifting away automobiles, President Mnangagwa dismissed an accusation that the businessman was appearing as his frontman. "The place would I get the cash to provide him?... You may't trouble me about somebody who's philanthropic," he advised journalists.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Fee (ZACC) did launch an inquiry final 12 months after South African investigative non-profit organisation Open Secrets and techniques alleged Chivayo had acquired a windfall of thousands and thousands of {dollars} because the facilitator of a young to produce election supplies to the Zimbabwe Electoral Fee (Zec) in 2023.

The scandal ballooned when a leaked audio message purportedly of Mr Chivayo speaking in regards to the deal additionally appeared to implicate two different businessmen by consoling them for failing to get promised kickbacks, suggesting many extra offers have been within the pipeline as "we now have them in vice-like grip".

The fallout was spectacular. Zec denied any dealings with Mr Chivayo or the opposite males, all of whom denied the allegations - and a 12 months on ZACC has not charged anybody.

Mr Chivayo mentioned the audio will need to have been a deep pretend, generated by means of refined know-how. He additionally apologised to the president for any impression the audio could have created that the primary household was corrupt.

However not lengthy afterwards, the 2 businessmen talked about within the audio have been arrested and charged with misappropriating round $7m in a separate case. They deny the accusations, linked to a presidential goat scheme tender, and have spent virtually a 12 months in jail ready for the trial to start.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4ada/live/09173530-4ead-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="NurPhoto/Getty Images Three female apostolic church members sit with their legs in front of them and their palms upturned on their laps to receive blessings from fellow congregants who place hands on their heads. They are gathered outside in a rocky area in Harare and everyone is dressed in white expect for a child looking on and another child being held by a man in the background." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> NurPhoto/Getty Pictures Wicknell Chivayo is a member of an apostolic church, whose members collect exterior to worship, sporting white

This week there was extra hoo-ha a few supposed leak over a doc from March about an alleged $500m contract with Mr Chivayo's title listed as a director of an organization to produce most cancers therapy gear to the Zimbabwe authorities for 4 years.

The outrage is over the truth that whether it is true, it didn't undergo a public tendering course of. The federal government and Mr Chivayo have dismissed the allegations, stating that the so-called contract touted as proof is unsigned.

"For an entire group of opposition outfits to staff up and make noise about an unsigned FAKE doc is an embarrassing desperation for political relevance," Mr Chivayo mentioned.

The daddy of two, not lengthy remarried at an elaborate wedding ceremony ceremony with greater than 15,000 friends, has usually mentioned he isn't involved in changing into a politician.

For him it's all in regards to the cash - and he says he's decided to see off his "haters". Posing by his jet lately, he wore a tracksuit with a large "B" emblazoned on his tracksuit, saying: "Take word the 'B' is the inevitable billionaire standing coming my method in opposition to all odds."

However his shut ties with energy, which have allowed him to grow to be wealthy, imply he'll all the time fly near controversy.

You may additionally be involved in:

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures/BBC [ad_2] Source link