Mnangagwa falls over himself in Chivayo praise

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has lauded controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, describing him as having a "golden heart" after donating ten ambulances and 200,000 litres of diesel to the government.

Chivayo, known for his involvement in high-profile private and government deals, has become a prominent figure in Zimbabwe for his philanthropic contributions, often supporting Zanu-PF affiliates and government-aligned initiatives.

Mnangagwa highlighted that the ten ambulances are part of a batch of 20, with the remaining units already delivered. In his remarks at State House, he described the vehicles as "brand new, state-of-the-art ambulances equipped with respirators, oxygen delivery systems, defibrillators and advanced patient monitoring units."

"These ambulances were formally handed over to the Minister of Health and Child Care for onward distribution across all provinces to strengthen emergency response capacity and improve access to critical healthcare services," Mnangagwa said.

He praised Chivayo as "an astute and maverick young businessman who continues to tirelessly support various key government programmes under Vision 2030."

Beyond healthcare, Chivayo has reportedly donated over a million dollars worth of gifts to singer Jah Prayzah, members of his apostolic sect, and pro-Zanu-PF and Vision 2030 agenda activists. He is also part of the cabal referred to by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as Zvigananda.

Mnangagwa added: "I extend my sincere appreciation to Chivayo for this gesture, which exemplifies the critical role of the private sector in complementing government efforts to deliver quality service delivery in the health sector. Such partnerships between government and indigenous businesses reaffirm my administration's mantra that ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,' and I urge other businesspeople to emulate this exemplary conduct."