Ex-convict Wicknell says $1m Zifa donation is like petty cash

Harare businessman, Wicknell Chivayo who is reportedly connected to the Zanu PF elite and recently rescued Zifa with his $1million donation has said the cash injection is 'like petty cash'.

Last week he paid the first installment of $50 000 of the agreed payment plan in service to the debt owed to former Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet.

"To us, that money is like petty cash, so we will not spend much of our time, which should be spent on planning the next move to get more money, trying to authenticate papers. No."

The youthful businessman has previously held private discussions with President Robert Mugabe over undisclosed issues.

He actually posted the pictures of himself and Mugabe after the meeting last year.

Chivayo's  company Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited was controversially awarded tenders for solar projects in the country.

He is said to have spent about two years at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

"I had wanted to make a once- off payment of $184 000, but it's [Zifa president Phillip] Chiyangwa who stopped me and asked the lawyers to accept a payment plan. The reason being that the Warriors will be going to Rwanda, which needs urgent attention rather than spending the money on the revival project of seven years to come. We still have time for 2022 while we no longer have time to prepare for Chan." Chivayo said.

Chivayo opened up to Standardsport on how it all happened.

"This started as a discussion with my brother Phillip, who is my business partner. I met him at some place where we were having our cars attended to. By then, he was in full swing campaigning to land the Zifa post and I told him openly that if he won, I would give him $1m to assist in the running of football. He was not surprised by my words because we come a long way together," Chivayo said.

He added: "Chiyangwa actually wanted me to give him that money even before he had won the election, but I told him point blank to win the elections first then I would give him the money. If I had given him the money, it was going to appear as if I had bought votes for him, which is one thing that I did not want to happen. I challenged him to use his own means to win the elections first after which the money would be his."

"I know very well that Chiyangwa is in there to leave a legacy. I will not be giving this money to anyone else [but Chiyangwa]. I have since communicated with Saintfeit's lawyers that I have taken over payment of the debt."

 "Chiyangwa and I come a long way. We are like business brothers. We have big money projects that we will be doing together this coming year. So as a business partner, I decided to chip in and give a helping hand, with a business future in mind though," Chivayo said.