Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has devised an alternative arrangement after a company policy at Zimpapers prevented two employees at Capitalk FM from accepting luxury vehicle gifts he had promised them.
Chivayo visited the radio station on May 5 for an interview and used the occasion to reward staff members. He handed over US$1,000 for each of the station’s 30 radio division employees, with the cash reportedly entrusted to general manager Comfort Mbofana for distribution. He also pledged to buy presenter Phathisani Sibanda a 2025 Toyota Fortuner GD6 and promised another employee a Toyota Aqua.
According to Chivayo, Mbofana approved the gesture immediately and even accompanied him to collect the money from his vehicle.
The gifts, however, sparked tension within Zimpapers after management invoked a corporate policy introduced in 2024 that limits gifts received by employees to a maximum value of US$100, which must also be formally declared.
Under the policy, the workers are reportedly allowed to retain only US$100 each from the cash distribution, meaning the remaining US$27,000 must be refunded. Sibanda was also reportedly told he had to either reject the Fortuner or leave his job.
Ironically, the policy was reportedly introduced because of Chivayo’s previous generosity. In 2024, he gifted Sibanda a Toyota Aqua during another radio appearance when the presenter was still working as an independent contractor and therefore not subject to company employment rules.
Sibanda later became a full-time employee in January, bringing him under the scope of the policy.
In a lengthy post on X, Chivayo expressed shock at the backlash, arguing that media workers who contribute to informing and entertaining the public deserved recognition rather than restrictions he described as excessive bureaucracy.
He then outlined a new arrangement intended to bypass the restrictions. According to Chivayo, a vehicle dealer identified as “Madzibaba Chipaga of Enterprise Car Sales” would sell the Fortuner to Sibanda for just US$100, while the female employee would purchase the Toyota Aqua for US$50.
Chivayo quoted the dealer as saying there was no law preventing him from selling vehicles at prices of his choosing.
The arrangement effectively allows the employees to appear as though they purchased the vehicles themselves, despite the transactions carrying the same financial benefit as outright gifts.
Chivayo also said he would send his lawyer, Sikhumbuzo Mpofu, to recover the US$27,000 set to be returned. In a sarcastic remark, he added that Mpofu “probably needs it more than I do” to fuel the Range Rover Autobiography he had previously gifted him.
