Rutendo Matinyarare says Chivayo died owing him money

HARARE - Political commentator and activist Rutendo Benson Matinyarare has claimed that the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo owed him money for services allegedly rendered before his death.

In a Facebook post that attracted significant attention online, Matinyarare said he now possesses what he described as "irrefutable evidence" that Chivayo sent a prominent intermediary to approach him with a request, which he fulfilled on the understanding that payment would follow.
"I now have irrefutable evidence that Wicknell sent someone important to approach me with a request to do something, which I fulfilled on the promise that I would be paid.
Unfortunately, he passed away before making the payment," Matinyarare wrote.
He questioned who should be approached to recover the alleged debt and who is responsible for settling the deceased businessman's outstanding obligations.
The claim is notable because Matinyarare and Chivayo were involved in a series of highly publicised social media confrontations before Chivayo's death.
The pair frequently clashed over politics, business and Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, with their exchanges drawing widespread attention on social media platforms. Reports and social media posts show the two publicly criticised each other on several occasions.
In one social media post, Matinyarare referenced Chivayo making videos about him and discussing political disagreements between the two.
Despite those public disputes, Matinyarare now claims there was a professional arrangement between him and Chivayo that remained unpaid at the time of the businessman's death.
The development comes shortly after the administration of Chivayo's estate commenced. According to reports, the Master of the High Court appointed Esther Chivayo and Sonja Louise Madzikanda as co-executrixes to administer the estate of the late businessman.
Under Zimbabwean law, creditors seeking payment from a deceased person's estate are generally required to lodge their claims with the executor or executrix administering the estate.
At the time of publication, Matinyarare had not disclosed the nature of the work allegedly performed, the amount he claims is owed, or whether he intends to formally lodge a claim against the estate.
No response from representatives of Chivayo's estate was immediately available.The claims remain allegations by Matinyarare and have not been independently verified.