Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Wicknell Chivayo marked his birthday over the weekend with another staggering display of wealth.
Chivayo announced a US$5.3 million (R92 million) giveaway while holidaying in Seychelles.
Chivayo donates millions on his birthday
The business man travelled with his wife to the Indian Ocean archipelago on his private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 300.
He released details of his latest donations, including buses and luxury vehicles.
The Zimbabwean billionaire donated a staggering US$1.14 million (about R 19.8 million) in six Toyota Land Cruisers (each worth US$190,000) to the top leadership of the ZANU-PF Women’s League.
He also gave US$650,000 (approximately R 11.3 million) in 10 Toyota Hilux GD6 vehicles (US$65,000 each) to the Women’s League in 10 provinces.
On top of this, he contributed US$500,000 (around R 8.7 million) directly to ZANU-PF across those same 10 provinces, and another US$325,000 (roughly R 5.6 million) for five Hilux GD6s (US$65,000 each) to young women aligned with President Mnangagwa, plus US$100,000 (about R 1.7 million) to the provincial branches.
For the Johanne Masowe Chishanu church, he gave 10 buses valued at US$2.1 million in total (US$210,000 each), which equates to about R 36.5 million.
He donated two more buses, US$420,000 combined (about R7.3 million) to Dudley Hall Primary School and John Landa Nkomo School respectively.
Big Spending and Regional Ambitions
Chivayo, who also heads Intratrek Zimbabwe, has displayed his generosity to many Zimbabweans while promoting himself as a regional investor.
He is a close associate of the Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chivayo has met presidents from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda as he pursues renewable-energy projects across East and Southern Africa.
According to Zim Live, an analysis of his social media activity shows that over the past 24 months, he has spent more than US$70 million (R1.21 billion) on giveaways.
This includes luxury cars, houses and cash giveaways to celebrities, members of his Johanne Masowe Chishanu church, Zanu PF politicians, social-media personalities and randomly chosen individuals in need.
Chivayo spent his birthday at a five-star resort in Seychelles with his wife, Lulu, social media posts showed.
