Wicknell Chivayo has hit back at Zimpapers after the company ordered staff to reject his cash and vehicle gifts, accusing the state-owned media group of punishing workers for “simple acts of gratitude”.
In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday, 13 May, Chivayo said he was “profoundly surprised” by reports that his $30,000 cash handout and vehicle offers to Capitalk FM staff had breached company policy.
The row follows his appearance at the Zimpapers-owned radio station, where he gave $30,000 for “lunch” to be shared by 30 staff members and offered to upgrade presenter Phathisani Sibanda’s Toyota Aqua to a 2025 Toyota Fortuner GD6.
Zimpapers has since invoked its 2024 gifts policy, which bars employees from accepting gifts worth more than US$100. Each staff member will keep $100, with the remaining $27,000 to be returned to Chivayo. Sibanda has been told to turn down the vehicle or resign.
Chivayo said he sought permission from Capitalk FM General Manager Comfort Mbofana before handing over the money. “I asked whether I was permitted to give the workers some money for lunch, to which he responded, ‘YES WITH PLEASURE’,” he said. “The General Manager personally escorted me to my car, where he received the money on behalf of the staff members.”
He added that Mbofana also “approved without hesitation” his request to buy Sibanda a Toyota Fortuner GD6 and another employee a Toyota Aqua.
“If indeed what is being said is the policy of the radio station, I am pleased to advise that Madzibaba Chipaga of Enterprise Car Sales is apparently selling a brand new Toyota Fortuner 2.4D GD6 for ONLY USD100 and a Toyota Aqua for ONLY USD50,” Chivayo said. “He has indicated that this is a special price applicable only to these two individuals.”
He said Sibanda and the other employee could “choose, if they so wish and can afford, to go and see the seller directly and purchase their vehicles on their own without my involvement”.
Chivayo said he had instructed his lawyer, Sikhumbuzo Mpofu, to collect the remaining $27,000 from Mbofana “today without fail”. “After all, he probably needs it more than I do, and I am sure it can assist significantly with unleaded fuel for his latest Range Rover Autobiography,” he added.
Defending the gifts, Chivayo said they were “purely out of appreciation for the hospitality and professionalism shown to me”. He described Capitalk FM staff as “hardworking Zimbabweans performing national service” who “deserve appreciation and encouragement rather than unnecessary red tape and excessive bureaucracy”.
“May we never reach a stage where expressing gratitude to hardworking Zimbabweans is treated as if it is a crime or results in unnecessary workplace grievances,” he said.
Zimpapers CEO William Chikoto earlier said the decision was “in compliance with the gift policy”, adding that staff “are not allowed to accept anything with a value of more than US$100”. A company executive said the policy was designed to “maintain editorial standards” and “remove any appearance of bribery”.
The gifts policy was introduced in 2024 after Chivayo donated a Toyota Aqua to Sibanda during a separate radio appearance. At the time, Sibanda was an independent contractor, and no action was taken against him. He became a full Zimpapers employee in January this year.
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