Themba Gorimbo turns down Wicknell Chivayo’s “offer”… accuses him of being a thief

HARARE – Outspoken Zimbabwean mixed martial arts fighter Themba Gorimbo has seemingly turned down what seemed to be a prospective gift from Wicknell Chivayo, accusing the controversial tenderpreneur of being a thief.

In a post, Chivayo had professed his like for mixed martial arts, pledging that a gift was in the offing for Gorimbo soon. Chivayo has been on a spending spree over the last few years, giving cars and other trinkets to Zimbabweans from all walks of life.

“I love Boxing and MMA. The young man Themba Gorimbo is doing well and representing our great. Pane zvidiki zvandichamuitira,” Wicknell wrote on social media.

However, Gorimbo expressed reservations about the controversial mogul’s offer, saying that he did not want to accept gifts from thieves lest he be regarded as one too.

The fighter revealed that this was not the first time Chivayo had attempted to “buy” him.

“Ini handitengeke futi. Mutambi wandinoita unoda good energy. Ukadziya moto wembavha watova mbavha too. I refused this so called gesture in December. Ndisiye. Saw him on the airport and ignored him futi,” Gorimbo wrote.

The MMA fighter’s stance received immediate criticism from social media Zanu-PF cheerleader Kudzai Mutisi, who argued that Gorimbo had received charity from Hollywood star The Rock with no qualms.

“That’s just hypocrisy from Gorimbo… He got help from The Rock, something that helped him establish himself in the US. He NEARLY DIED during a fight recently without receiving that “dirty money”…

“He is just looking for sources of sympathy in case he gets clobbered again. No one should feel bad for receiving help, more so from a fellow Zimbabwean.

“Gorimbo thinks he is better because he was a charity case to Americans??? That’s silly honestly. @wicknellchivayo has the right to gift Zimbabweans the same way the Rock gifted Gorimbo himself.

“Of course he is now fine but at one moment he needed someone to help him and the Rock did,” Mutisi wrote.

But the overwhelming majority of Zimbabweans praised Gorimbo for his courageous stance especially given the source of Chivayo’s wealth remains mired in scandal.

Chivayo is accused of looting state entities and commissions using dodgy inflated contracts that never go to public tender.

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) are examples of organisations were his companies were corruptly awarded dodgy contracts worth millions.