A high‑profile donation by businessman Wicknell Chivayo to Highlanders FC has reignited money laundering concerns as critics scrutinise how he mobilises and distributes large sums of cash.
Chivayo gifted Highlanders leaders vehicles and cash reportedly worth just over US$1 million after their 1–0 Jairos Jiri Charity Cup final win over Dynamos. Coaches and executives were given luxury vehicles, and each beneficiary received US$10,000 cash for fuel and pocket money.
Celebrating the club’s success on social media, Chivayo wrote:
“BOSSO iBOSSO…SIYINQABA!!!!
A motivated and well‑led team will always DELIVER results! Highlanders FC’s 1–0 victory over Dembare clearly shows that Bosso is ON THE RISE…”
He added:
“It is my sincere HOPE and EXPECTATION that, with such financial support, the Club will be able to SIGN ON new players and adequately MOTIVATE the current players.”
While some football fans praise the gesture, others are asking tough questions about the scale, liquidity, and rapidity of Chivayo’s cash movements, especially given ongoing legal scrutiny.
Multi‑Million Dollars In Donations
Chivayo’s financial footprint goes beyond Highlanders. In 2025 alone, publicly declared donations linked to him include:
- US$1 million pledged to the ED‑UNZA Scholarship Programme, launched in 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa> to support underprivileged students in high‑cost fields like medicine, law and engineering.
- More than US$1.9 million worth of vehicles and cash gifts during his 45th birthday celebrations to political and social groups, including Toyota Land Cruisers, Hilux pickups and provincial allowances.
- 12 brand‑new buses donated to schools and his church.
Conservatively, visible 2025 donations tied to his name exceed US$3 million, and that figure excludes earlier gifts to other football clubs, social influencers, and women’s organisations.
Analysts note that Chivayo, long accused of diverting funds from development tenders for personal gain, including the US$173 million Gwanda solar power project, which is yet to take off a decade later, appears to use multi‑million‑dollar gifts to football clubs, socialites, and influencers as a way to secure goodwill and public favor, potentially discouraging scrutiny of his past projects and financial dealings.
Money Laundering Questions Resurface
The timing of the Highlanders donation has fuelled debate because of an ongoing cross‑border probe by the South African Hawks into suspicious financial flows reportedly linked to entities associated with Chivayo. In 2024, Hawks officials acknowledged the investigation involving flagged transactions exceeding US$3.2 billion. They confirmed in January 2026 the investigation was still hot and active adding such inquiries take time and forensic analysis of banking records under anti‑money‑laundering laws.
Critics, including lawyer and former Mt Pleasant MP Fadzayi Mahere, have voiced concern:
“How do you manage to access so much cash? Why do you never do bank transfers? How do you withdraw the money? … What do anti‑money‑laundering laws say about storing cash?”
Analysts say that in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, rapid cash distributions without clear transactional trails can trigger regulatory scrutiny. Zimbabwe’s anti‑corruption and financial oversight bodies, including the Zimbabwe Anti‑Corruption Commission, have not publicly opened proceedings against him.
Legal And Public Response
Chivayo maintains his donations are legitimate and philanthropic. Supporters argue private wealth should be deployed where the donor sees fit, particularly in communities, education, and sport. However, when donations involve cross‑border liquidity and high‑value assets, governance experts remind the public that transparency and compliance with financial crime laws are essential.
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