By Munacho Gwamanda-Controversial businessman and Zanu PF bootlicker, Wicknell Chivhayo has once again demonstrated his deep ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt network by purchasing a brand-new 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge for Mnangagwa’s chief financial enabler, Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
This extravagant display of wealth comes at a time when Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been warning against the rampant looting of state resources by politically connected elites.
The $1.2 million ultra-luxury vehicle, which Chivhayo claims to have fully paid for, including duties and import taxes, is set to go into production in April and will be delivered in July 2025.
Chivhayo, who has a well-documented history of benefitting from government tenders and patronage, announced the gift in an effusive and sycophantic statement in which he hailed Tagwirei as a “businessman of unquestionable integrity” and a “mentor.”
“As the famous Seventh-day Adventist saying goes, ‘Each new year of life is a GIFT from God, a time to reflect, give THANKS and RENEW our commitment to His purpose’… Today I want to celebrate a man whose wisdom, resilience and FAITH have shaped both businesses and lives alike – MR KUDAKWASHE REGIMOND TAGWIREI,” Chivhayo wrote in a lengthy tribute filled with religious overtones and exaggerated praise.
Chivhayo further lauded Tagwirei’s business empire, which he claimed had “transcended industries and crossed borders into Africa, Europe, Asia, and beyond.”
He also praised Tagwirei’s “commitment to ethical business,” despite widespread allegations of state capture, illicit wealth accumulation, and monopolistic control over Zimbabwe’s fuel, mining, and banking sectors.
The timing of this gift is particularly significant, as it comes amidst increasing tensions within Zanu PF.
Chiwenga has reportedly been growing frustrated with the looting of state resources by Mnangagwa’s inner circle, particularly the so-called “Zvigananda” elite that continues to drain the country’s coffers through opaque deals and state-funded contracts.
By rewarding Tagwirei with a lavish gift, Chivhayo is effectively rebuffing Chiwenga’s calls for accountability, reinforcing the impunity enjoyed by those within Mnangagwa’s faction.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, finished in an olive green color—symbolising, according to Chivhayo, Tagwirei’s “heart of love and solid faith”—features a custom two-tone olive green and cream interior.
Chivhayo described the gift as a “small token of appreciation” for the impact Tagwirei has had on his life and the business community.
Critics argue that this brazen display of wealth is yet another indication of how Zimbabwe’s ruling elite continues to enrich itself while the majority of the population struggles with economic hardship.
The gift raises further questions about the sources of Chivhayo’s immense wealth and whether financial and anti-corruption authorities are properly scrutinising his dealings.