Chivayo’s US$250,000 Gift Car Raises Importation Questions

HARARE – Questions have emerged over the importation of a luxury vehicle valued at US$250,000 that the late businessman Wicknell Chivayo offered to lawyer Lewis Uriri, after documents reportedly showed that the car was cleared through customs using an uncertified copy of Uriri’s cancelled passport.

According to a report by ZimLive, the vehicle was purchased from Johannesburg-based dealer Verve Auto Sports and cleared by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) under Uriri’s name, despite indications that he may not have been involved in the importation process.

The car was later delivered to Exquisite Motors in Harare, where it was kept before Chivayo publicly announced the gift on September 21.

Chivayo, who died in a helicopter crash near Marondera nine days later, said the vehicle was intended to recognise Uriri’s legal services over the years. He also offered the lawyer US$50,000 for fuel.

However, Uriri turned down both offers, saying the announcement had caught him by surprise and had not been discussed with him beforehand.

The lawyer said he did not want to accept benefits that could create an impression of financial obligation beyond professional services that had already been completed and paid for.

Uriri is part of a legal team representing activists challenging constitutional amendments that extended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term. He also indicated that his relationship with Chivayo had been strained for years.

Documents cited in the report show that the vehicle was bought for R2,882,782, while ZIMRA collected US$74,460.57 in import duty.

The report alleges that an uncertified copy of Uriri’s old passport was used during the customs clearance process. The passport had reportedly been cancelled in 2024 after its pages were exhausted, and Uriri later obtained a replacement.

Legal questions have been raised over the use of the cancelled document and the presentation of the transaction as an importation conducted in Uriri’s name.

Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who examined the documents, said the transaction could have involved unlawful conduct.

He argued that the vehicle should have been imported in Chivayo’s name before being legally donated to Uriri, who would then have acquired ownership upon accepting the gift.

Mpofu further alleged that the documentation contained false information and argued that the vehicle should be forfeited to the State if criminal misconduct was established.

ZIMRA spokesperson Gladman Njani declined to comment on the specific transaction, citing confidentiality provisions under the Revenue Authority Act and the Customs and Excise Act.

He said the authority remained committed to enforcing customs requirements lawfully while protecting confidential taxpayer information.

Exquisite Motors owner Victor Vikela said his company had only stored the vehicle at Chivayo’s request and had no involvement in its purchase or importation.

Vikela confirmed that the car had since been moved from the showroom but declined to disclose its current location.

Uriri also declined to provide further details, saying: “You guys must just let Wicknell rest in peace.”

Chivayo had reportedly offered the same vehicle to another lawyer, Advocate Silvester Hashiti, alongside an additional US$500,000 cash gift. However, Chivayo died before Hashiti could collect the car, and Exquisite Motors reportedly directed him to contact the executor of Chivayo’s estate.

The allegations surrounding the vehicle’s importation have not been established in court, and no finding of criminal wrongdoing has been cited in the report.