Zimpapers Crisis: Chivayo’s Car Ban Sparks Ultimatum-Resign or Reject the Gift
Zimbabwe’s state-owned media conglomerate, Zimpapers, has escalated a high-profile ethical dispute with businessman Wicknell Chivayo, ordering nearly 30 employees to return most of the $30,000 in cash he distributed during a May 5 visit to the company’s Capitalk FM radio station. The directive follows the enforcement of a 2024 gifts policy that caps individual gifts at $100, with any excess requiring repayment or forfeiture.
The confrontation centers on Chivayo’s visit, during which he announced he would distribute $1,000 each to 30 Capitalk FM staff members as a gesture of appreciation. According to Zimpapers’ general manager for the radio division, Comfort Mbofana, the funds were handed over during the visit, with Chivayo personally delivering the cash and receiving confirmation from Mbofana that the distribution was approved. However, the policy—introduced after Chivayo gifted a Toyota Aqua to presenter Phathisani Sibanda in 2024, when Sibanda was still an independent contractor—now requires employees to return all but $100 per person, totaling a mandatory repayment of approximately $27,000.
Sibanda, a prominent Capitalk FM presenter, was also placed in a direct bind: reject a newly offered 2025 Toyota Fortuner GD6 from Chivayo or face termination. The ultimatum underscores the policy’s zero-tolerance stance on gifts exceeding the $100 limit, even when offered by external figures. Zimpapers has framed the enforcement as necessary to preserve editorial integrity and public trust, warning that acceptance of high-value gifts from politically connected individuals risks perceptions of influence peddling or conflicts of interest.
Chivayo’s response has been to bypass the policy entirely. Sources close to the matter confirm he has arranged for a car dealer to sell the two vehicles to Sibanda and a female colleague at a fraction of their market value, effectively circumventing Zimpapers’ prohibition. The workaround—announced during his May 5 interview—was described by Chivayo as a “gesture of appreciation” for the radio station’s coverage, though it directly contradicts the company’s stated ethical guidelines.
Zimpapers’ management is reportedly considering a formal request for Chivayo to redirect the remaining funds toward institutional purposes, such as purchasing operational vehicles for staff. The move would reallocate the money away from individual employees while ostensibly complying with the gifts policy. However, no official statement has been issued confirming whether such a proposal has been extended or accepted.
The dispute reflects broader tensions between Zimbabwe’s state media and private-sector figures, particularly those with ties to the ruling Zanu PF party. Chivayo, a businessman with known connections to Zanu PF-aligned circles, has faced scrutiny in the past for his practice of gifting luxury vehicles, cash, and other high-value items to journalists, musicians, and public figures. Zimpapers’ enforcement of its gifts policy—first triggered by Chivayo’s 2024 donation to Sibanda—marks the first instance of the rule being applied retroactively to full-time employees.
As of May 13, 2026, Zimpapers has not confirmed whether Sibanda has resigned or rejected the Fortuner. The company’s human resources department has declined to comment on individual cases, citing ongoing internal investigations. Chivayo has not publicly addressed the policy enforcement or the proposed redirection of funds, though his office did not respond to requests for clarification.
The unresolved standoff leaves Sibanda’s employment status in limbo and raises questions about the enforceability of Zimpapers’ gifts policy against external donors. While the company has framed the crackdown as a matter of professional ethics, the episode has exposed divisions between its stated principles and the practical challenges of policing gifts from influential figures in Zimbabwe’s political and economic elite.