Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, whose lavish public cash donations have sparked widespread debate, has received indirect legal backing after Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube told Parliament that holding large sums of money is not a crime in Zimbabwe.
Ncube, on Wednesday, told Parliament that it is not illegal for individuals to possess large amounts of cash in Zimbabwe, clarifying a contentious issue that has drawn public debate in recent years.
The Minister said the law only places limits on how much money can be withdrawn from banks at a given time, but does not criminalise the possession of cash, regardless of the amount.
“The law is very clear in terms of limiting withdrawals; it limits withdrawals from the bank. You can keep withdrawing for the next 10 days or 30 days. By that time, you will have a lot of money with you.
“It is not illegal to be found in possession of that money at all. There is no illegality,” he said.
His remarks came after legislators raised concerns about increasing cases of individuals seen handling or distributing large sums of cash, often outside the formal banking system.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, also highlighted the challenges police face in investigating crimes involving large amounts of cash.
He said such cases are difficult to prosecute because complainants often fail to provide proof of ownership, such as serial numbers, and may underreport amounts for fear of scrutiny over the source of funds.
“One of the major challenges is accountability for the cash exhibits when they are recovered,” Kazembe stated.
“When police recover such money, in the majority of cases, complainants are not able to properly account for their money through serial numbers and courts therefore find it difficult to link recovered money to the complainant, as there will not be any other proof of ownership.
“Under such circumstances, money may even end up not being handed back to the complainant, which defeats all efforts involved.”
The issue has been amplified by public scrutiny of Chivayo, who has in recent years attracted attention for distributing large cash donations to musicians, church figures, congregants, footballers and politicians.
Chivayo’s high-profile giveaways have sparked debate on social media and among critics, some of whom have accused authorities of failing to act against him due to political connections.
During the same session, legislators also questioned whether existing exchange control regulations were being breached, particularly in cases where individuals are believed to access large sums from banks.
In response, ministers indicated that such matters would fall under financial regulators and would require specific evidence to trigger investigations.
