HARARE, Apr. 21, 2026 (NewsDay Live) – Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has withdrawn his US$3.6 million offer to Zimbabwe’s 360 legislators following a backlash that exposed divisions within the ruling Zanu PF party.
He has instead increased the amount to US$5 million, pledging to channel the funds through the party’s provincial structures.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Chivayo said he was retracting the original pledge, which would have given each legislator US$10,000, citing concerns raised within the party, particularly by the Zanu PF youth league.
“I therefore unreservedly retract my initial pledge directed towards Parliament,” he said.
Under the revised arrangement, US$500,000 will be allocated to each of the country’s 10 provinces through provincial chairpersons, ostensibly to fund grassroots development initiatives.
Chivayo maintained the initial donation was made in good faith as an Independence gift, insisting it carried no political strings and was “purely developmental in nature.” He described himself as a philanthropist who has spent more than US$200 million on charity across Zimbabwe and the continent over the past three years.
However, he conceded missteps in how the offer was handled.
“As a political novice, I acknowledge that there are structures and protocols I ought to have observed. In hindsight, the channel through which the pledge was communicated was probably not the best,” he said.
- Corruption Watch: Get scared, 2023 is coming
- Corruption Watch: Get scared, 2023 is coming
- Letters: Ensuring Africa’s food security through availability of quality seeds
- Is military's involvement in politics compatible with democracy?
Keep Reading
The original offer drew swift rebuke from the Zanu PF youth league, which said it undermined Parliament’s integrity, particularly amid debate over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), which critics argue could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond 2028.
Chivayo denied any link between the donation and CAB3, reiterating his support for Mnangagwa and the party’s Vision 2030 agenda.
The revised pledge remains subject to consultation with what he termed “appropriate party structures.”
Critics are likely to question whether rerouting the funds through provincial chairpersons meaningfully addresses concerns, or simply shifts the money deeper into party channels.
Chivayo apologised to Parliament, the Speaker and the Zanu PF youth league for any “discomfort or misunderstanding” caused.
