Free-spending mogul Wicknell Chivayo once again dominated the spotlight — and, in the process, tightened his grip on the political theatre surrounding President Emmerson Mnangagwa — after dropping a staggering US$600,000 to secure the president’s trademark scarf at a glittering charity dinner held at State House on Friday.
What was supposed to be a routine fundraiser for the Angel of Hope Foundation, led by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, quickly turned into a showcase of Chivayo’s unmatched financial muscle. Mnangagwa fuelled the moment by theatrically removing the scarf from his own shoulders and handing it to the businessman, joking about a “peaceful transfer of power” as guests erupted in laughter. Moments later, an aide produced a replacement scarf for the president to wear.
The move not only electrified the room but also reinforced a growing perception: Chivayo’s generosity — often strategically timed and highly public — continues to place him at the centre of the First Family’s orbit, a dynamic that has raised eyebrows within political and business circles.
This came just 48 hours after Chivayo pledged US$1 million to Dudley Hall Primary School in Norton, his former school, to construct two dormitories named after the president and first lady.
Inside the packed State House marquee, bidding for the scarf began modestly, with several prominent business figures taking part. Gold miner FS Mining looked poised to win after offering US$250,000. Chivayo, who had kept quiet during early rounds, finally entered the bidding ring — and changed the entire atmosphere.
The contest reached a dramatic twist when Collins Mnangagwa, the president’s twin son, playfully hiked the offer to US$500,000, prompting murmurs among guests who suspected he was nudging bidders to dig deeper for his mother’s charity.
But Chivayo was not to be overshadowed. He fired back with a crushing US$600,000 bid — a figure that instantly silenced the room and secured him yet another moment of dominance.
Chivayo’s latest six-figure gesture adds to his growing catalogue of high-profile donations, further cementing his reputation as Zimbabwe’s biggest-spending benefactor. Yet it also fuels ongoing debate about his close proximity to power and the origins of the vast wealth he brandishes so effortlessly.
For now, one thing is clear: at every major event linked to the first family, Chivayo continues to outshine, outspend, and overshadow — putting yet another symbolic nail in the narrative of who really commands the room when the president himself is present.
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