By Everson Mushava
Convicted fraudster and Zifa benefactor Wicknell Chivayo courted more controversy yesterday after he flaunted pictures of him allegedly having dinner with First Lady Grace Mugabe in Dubai on social media.
Chivayo is in the eye of a storm after throwing a tantrum following revelations national soccer team coach Kalisto Pasuwa had gone for two months without a salary despite the controversial businessman’s pledge to pay him.
He insulted journalists from the State-controlled media for writing the story before launching an unrestrained attack on Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo for suggesting that Zifa must not rely on individual sponsors.
Chivayo, who is in the habit of boasting about his alleged wealth on Facebook, claimed he had flown out to London in the wake of the scandal.
He resurfaced yesterday saying he was in Dubai and suggested he was untouchable because of his “close links” with President Robert Mugabe’s family.
“Had dinner in Dubai yesterday with my mother [Grace] and my little brother [Robert jnr]…I love my parents….Team Bob for life, there is nothing you can do to me,” he boasted on Facebook.
Grace has not been seen in public since a Zanu PF politburo meeting last Wednesday.
She was conspicuous by her absence at a meeting between Mugabe and war veterans in Harare the following day. Grace also skipped the central committee meeting on Friday.
Chivayo’s source of wealth has come under scrutiny in the past few weeks.
He revealed last week that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority was investigating him for alleged tax evasion.
His association with Grace would raise questions about the company Mugabe’s family keeps. In 2014, Chivayo posted pictures with Mugabe, which were allegedly taken at the veteran leader’s office on Facebook.
However, the pictures were subsequently removed after he taunted Central Intelligence Organisation operatives in his posts on Facebook.
Chivayo has also posted pictures taken with influential Zanu PF officials, including the ruling party’s spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo. He does not hide the fact that he is a Zanu PF supporter.
On Facebook he wrote that he enjoyed the publicity he was getting locally.
“It was always my dream to have everyone from all four corners of the country waking up and talking about me every single day of their lives, be it good or bad,” he said.
“Controversy is my comfort zone and you are stroking my ego because when the sun goes down, at the end I always win.
“I also always pray to God that I want the type of big money that leaves people so confused and calling me all sorts of names like criminal, drug-dealer, tax-evader and fraudster.”
In 2004, Chivayo was sentenced to three years in jail with labour after he was convicted of theft by false pretences involving R837 000. He served his sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare. The Standard
