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'{{short description|Zimbabwean businessman|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Wicknell Chivayo | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = renewal nyamayevhu chivayo | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1982|11|22}} | birth_place = [[Chivhu]], Zimbabwe | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=y|2024|01|28}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | nationality = Zimbabwean | other_names = Sir Wicknell<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.zambianobserver.com/zimbabwe-military-visit-controversial-millionaire-sir-wicknell-chivayos-home/|title= Zimbabwe Military Visit Controversial Millionaire "sir" Wicknell Chivayo's Home|accessdate=11 February 2018 |work= The Zambian Observer}}</ref> | occupation = Entrepreneur, intratek zimbabwe | years_active = 2006–present | spouse = | website = {{URL|intratrek-zw.com/}} | known_for = business man and philanthropist }} '''Wicknell Chivayo''' (22 November 1982) is a [[Zimbabwean]] businessman who rose to prominence ………..<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-123976.html|title= Zesa Demands $5 Million back from Wicknell Chivayo|accessdate=8 January 2018 |work=Bulawayo 24 News}}</ref> It was reported that the then Energy and Power Development Minister of Zimbabwe [[Samuel Undenge]] pressured the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to pay Chivayo's company called Intratek Zimbabwe $5&nbsp;million despite the absence of a bank guarantee.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Share |first=Felex |date=1 June 2016 |title= ZPC nails minister •’ . . . he pressured us to pay Chivayo $5m’ • Businessman admits failure to raise guarantee |newspaper=The Herald |url=http://www.herald.co.zw/zpc-nails-minister-%E2%80%A2-he-pressured-us-to-pay-chivayo-5m-%E2%80%A2-businessman-admits-failure-to-raise-guarantee/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722010607/https://www.herald.co.zw/zpc-nails-minister-%E2%80%A2-he-pressured-us-to-pay-chivayo-5m-%E2%80%A2-businessman-admits-failure-to-raise-guarantee/ |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> == Background and career == After leaving school, Wicknell began working as a wages clerk at a local bus company at the age of 15. Later, he engaged in illegal money exchanging at Harare’s Union Avenue Flea Market, which is now known as Kwame Nkrumah Avenue. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Obimma |first=Stanley |date=2024-04-02 |title=Wicknell Chivayo Biography, Age, Business, Wife, Net Worth |url=https://stanleyplug.com.ng/wicknell-chivayo-biography-age-business-wife-net-worth/ |website=StanleyPlug}}</ref> In January 2018, Zimbabwe's Energy and Power Development Minister [[Simon Khaya-Moyo]] said the contract between the [[Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority]]'s subsidiary ZPC and Chivayo was discussed in [[Cabinet (government)]] and his predecessor, Minister Samuel Undenge, failed to give a convincing explanation on why ZPC proceeded to pay Chivayo when no progress had been made on the project site.<ref>{{Cite news|title= Chivayo deals: Heads to roll at Zesa|accessdate=24 January 2018 |newspaper= The Herald |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/chivayo-deals-heads-to-roll-at-zesa/ }}</ref> On 22 January 2018 it was reported that ZPC actually paid Chivayo's company Intratek $7 million instead of the $5 million advance payment that was initially reported. <ref>{{Cite news|title= Chivayo deals: Zimbabwe Power Company now says Wicknell Chivayo was paid $7 million advance |date=22 January 2018 |newspaper= The Zimbabwe Mail |url=https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/law-crime/zimbabwe-power-company-now-says-wicknell-chivayo-paid-7-million-advance/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123045208/https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/law-crime/zimbabwe-power-company-now-says-wicknell-chivayo-paid-7-million-advance/ |archive-date=23 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Chivayo single handedly sponsored the [[Zimbabwe national football team]] but later withdrew that sponsorship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2016/04/08/wicknell-chivayo-fool-money/|title= Wicknell Chivayo: A fool and his money|accessdate=30 December 2017 |work=Zimbabwe Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/09/chivayo-dumps-warriors/|title= Chivayo dumps Warriors|accessdate=30 December 2017 |work=NewsDay}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2016/04/10/zifa-in-bid-to-replace-chivayo/https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2016/04/08/wicknell-chivayo-fool-money/|title=Zifa in bid to replace Chivayo|accessdate=30 December 2017 |work=The Standard}}</ref> Chivayo was part of an audience that attended a meeting in South Africa held by current Zimbabwean president [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]].<ref name="NewZimbabwe.com">{{cite news|title=Zimbabwe 'Sir' Wicknell at Mnangagwa SA Meeting|accessdate=6 January 2018 |newspaper=New Zimbabwe |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201712220002.html }}</ref> President Emmerson Mnangagwa went to South Africa in December 2017, to address potential Zimbabwean investors based in that nation.<ref name="NewZimbabwe.com"/> [[Zimbabwean President]] [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] had plans to investigate Wicknell Chivayo over $&nbsp;1bond worth of tender business from the Zimbabwean government.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.zimeye.net/mnangagwa-targets-wicknell-chivayo-massive-boost-looms/ |title= Mnangagwa Targets Wicknell Chivayo: MASSIVE BOOST LOOMS|accessdate=6 January 2018 |work=zimeye}}</ref> According to the Zimbabwean government's state broadcaster [[Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation|ZBC]] Chivayo was placed under oath by the Zimbabwean parliament and asked to explain how he used the money allocated to his company, Intratrek.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.zbc.co.zw/?p=76550|title= UPDATED: Parly grills Wicknell Chivayo|accessdate=13 February 2018 |publisher= ZBC News}}</ref> It was also reported that Chivayo then disowned Intratrek while the company's CEO Yousouf Ahmed through his lawyer claimed he was not aware of how Chivayo had spent the money and distanced himself from the charge.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.zimeye.net/watch-drama-as-wicknell-chivayo-disowns-own-company-and-director-says-he-doesnt-know-how-wicknell-spent-the-5-million-zesa-cash/|title= WATCH: Drama As Wicknell Chivayo Disowns Own Company, And Director Says He Doesn’t Know How Wicknell Spent the $5 million ZESA Cash|accessdate=13 February 2018 |work= ZimEye}}</ref> == Controversy == [[File:Mchabezi GW.jpg|thumb|Mtshabezi, Gwanda, the town of the projects in question]] In 2017 the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and the Zimbabwean Parliament probed Chivayo's electricity power contracts that included a USD$200&nbsp;million dollar power contract for [[Gwanda]], a small town in Zimbabwe and other power contracts that had an accumulated value in excess of USD$600&nbsp;million of which none were ever delivered.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/12/10/chivayo-feels-heat-over-zesa-projects|title= Chivayo Feels Heat Over Zesa Projects|accessdate=30 December 2017 |work=Daily News}}</ref> In late January 2018, general secretary of the Energy Sector Workers' Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ), Gibson Mushunje, claimed that Chivayo was involved in power contracts reaching up to USD$684&nbsp;million.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-46309-Chivayo+sitting+on+$680m+ZESA+contracts/news.aspx|title= Chivayo sitting on $680&nbsp;million ZESA projects claims union boss|accessdate=29 January 2018 |work=New Zimbabwe}}</ref> In March 2018, Chivayo drew attention for buying shoes worth R20 000 [[South African rand]] and compared himself to [[Adolf Hitler]] for having so many shoes<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-129807.html|title= Wicknell splashes R20 000 on shoes|accessdate=9 March 2017 |work=Bulawayo News24}}</ref><ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2018/03/09/wicknell-splashes-r20-000-on-shoes|title= Wicknell splashes R20 000 on shoes|accessdate=9 March 2017 |work= Daily News}}</ref> == Arrests == In 2004 Chivayo was charged with fraud involving ZAR 837 000 [[South African rand]] while other's believed the amount to exceed R2 000 000 South African rand and was incarcerated at [[Chikurubi Prison]], a maximum security prison in Zimbabwe.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/wicknell-chivayo-criminal-mastermind/|title= Wicknell Chivayo: Criminal mastermind|accessdate=8 January 2017 |work=Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/chivayos-prison-stint-exposed/|title= Chivayo's prison stint exposed|accessdate=8 January 2017 |work=The Sunday Mail}}</ref> In December 2017 Chivayo was arrested over a $5&nbsp;million United States dollar ZESA contract.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.pazimbabwe.com/business-43583-businessman-wicknell-chivayo-reportedly-arrested-by-cid-serious-frauds-in-daw.html|title= Businessman Wicknell Chivayo reportedly arrested by CID Serious Frauds in draw|accessdate=30 December 2017 |work=PaZimbabwe}}</ref> ==Zimbabwean politics== Chivayo questioned [[Nelson Chamisa]]’s claim at a [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai]] rally that Zimbabwe will have bullet trains.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/chamisa-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about-wicknell-chivayo/|title= Chamisa Does Not Know What He Is Talking About – Wicknell Chivayo|accessdate=7 March 2018 |work= The Zimbabwe Mail}}</ref> [[Grace Mugabe]], Zimbabwe's former first lady is believed to be associated with Chivayo.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2016/04/29/grace-warns-chivayo/|title=Grace warns Chivayo|accessdate=7 March 2018 |work=Zimbabwe Independent}}</ref> Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe accused the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) of providing funds to Chivayo and Grace Mugabe.<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 December 2017 |title= Grace Mugabe, Chivayo Latest |newspaper=The Zimbabwe Mail |url=https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/headlines/grace-mugabe-chivayo-latest/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222140228/http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/headlines/grace-mugabe-chivayo-latest/ |archive-date=22 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Chivayo apologised to former higher education minister [[Jonathan Moyo]] and offered to donate education material worth $50 000 to a [[Tsholotsho District]] school of his choice, a development that was likely viewed as support to the [[Generation 40]] (G40) faction of [[ZANU–PF]].<ref>{{Cite news|title= Wicknell Chivayo grovels to G40 |date=16 April 2016 |newspaper=News Day |url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/04/wicknell-chivayo-grovels-g40/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712161827/https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/04/wicknell-chivayo-grovels-g40/ |archive-date=12 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> == Personal life == In 2017 Chivayo married Sonja Madzikanda and it was reported that a bride price of USD$50 000 was paid.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/wicknell-marries/|title= Wicknell marries|accessdate=10 January 2017 |work=chronicle}}</ref> Popular international artist [[Oliver Mtukudzi]] serenaded guests at Chivayo's wedding.<ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/tuku-serenades-chivayos-marriage-ceremony-guests/|title=Tuku serenades Chivayo's marriage ceremony guests|accessdate=10 January 2017 |work=The Herald}}</ref> In 2018 Chivayo made news for publishing his son's (John Chenjera-Chivayo) [[DNA test]] results to prove that the child was his son.<ref>{{ cite news|url=http://www.chronicle.co.zw/wicknell-chivayo-stirs-hornets-with-paternity-test/|title= Wicknell Chivayo stirs hornet's with patenity test|accessdate=3 February 2018 |work=chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{ cite news|url=https://www.pazimbabwe.com/business-44724-wicknell-chivayo-attacked-over-newly-born-son-dna-test-result.html|title= Wicknell Chivayo Attacked Over Newly Born Son DNA Test Result|accessdate=3 February 2018 |work=PaZimbabwe}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chivayo, Wicknell}} [[Category:living people]] [[Category:1982 births]] [[Category:Zimbabwean businesspeople]]'