By Cde Sikhosana Bambazonke
Flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo, Zimbabwe’s favorite human ATM, has offered to privately settle with losing candidates in the ZIFA presidential election.
Because nothing says fair play like a suitcase full of cash and a handshake.
Chivayo, who recently moonlights as a football fairy godfather, is under fire for allegedly promising US$10 million and 78 brand-new cars to ZIFA delegates if they voted for Kuda Tagwirei’s blue eyed boy, Nqobile Magwizi.
Well, Chivayo insists this wasn’t vote buying, it was just philanthropy with a hint of horsepower.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Chivayo dismissed accusations of FIFA ethics violations, explaining that FIFA’s rules don’t apply to him.
After all, he’s just a humble patriot who loves football and believes every delegate deserves a new car. Is that a crime?
He then offered to meet the losing candidates for a gentleman’s private settlement, which we can only assume involves a briefcase, a dark room, and a lot of zeros.
The unpatriotic losing candidates, Twine Phiri and Phillemon Machana, weren’t impressed.
They’ve taken their grievances to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), demanding Magwizi’s victory be annulled and fresh elections held.
They also want Magwizi banned from running again, claiming he failed to distance himself from Chivayo’s generosity.
Magwizi won the election with 61 out of 77 votes, leaving Phiri and Machana with six and four votes, respectively.
Our beloved Mbinga Chivayo, insists there’s no connection.
He just really likes giving people things. It’s a hobby.
Some people are civil servants working for the government to collect monthly meager salaries, Chivayo on the hand gets lucrative multimillion government contracts.
The CAS petition also accuses Youth Minister Tino Machakaire of endorsing Magwizi before the election.
One delegate even claims they were forced to photograph their ballot under duress.
Because nothing says democracy like a gun to your head and a Toyota Corolla in your driveway.
Chivayo, our beloved tenderprenuer however, remains unshaken.
His financial pledges were private initiatives, he explained.
He’s just a businessman who loves football and hates empty parking lots.
If he wants to fill them with cars for his fellow patriots, that’s his prerogative.
He also called on stakeholders to support Magwizi, urging them to give him a fair chance to start his assignment.
After all, he won fair and square.
We stand with our Mbinga Chivayo who is confident FIFA will dismiss the petition.
They’ll see this for what it is, he calls a smear campaign by people who don’t understand the beauty of a well-timed bribe.
Or, as he prefers to call it, a gesture of goodwill.
