HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to preside over a high-profile ceremony Wednesday in Harare, where businessman and ZANU-PF benefactor Wicknell Chivayo will hand over a fleet of ambulances and luxury vehicles worth more than US$4 million.
Chivayo, a loyalist of the ruling party, announced earlier this week that he had purchased 10 state-of-the-art ICU ambulances for provincial hospitals and 10 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 VXR vehicles for ZANU-PF provincial chairpersons. Each ambulance is valued at about US$90,000, while the vehicles, pegged at US$190,000 each, are accompanied by US$100,000 in cash per province to support youth empowerment and local development initiatives.
In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), Chivayo hailed ZANU-PF as a “revolutionary party with an unshakeable foundation” and contrasted its structures with what he described as the “fractured, poorly coordinated opposition.” He said the gifts were both recognition of grassroots leaders who had “kept the wheels of the revolution turning” and a tribute to Mnangagwa’s 82nd birthday.
Chivayo also hinted at a second wave of donations, promising 20 more ambulances once procurement logistics are finalized.
The businessman’s gesture comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s healthcare system is under strain, with persistent shortages of staff, equipment and emergency resources, particularly in rural districts. Health officials have welcomed the ambulances as a “game-changer” for critical care delivery.
The scale and timing of the donations have seen critics cautioning that the gesture could blur the line between philanthropy and political patronage, while others see it as a demonstration of Chivayo’s growing capacity to give back and support national causes
Chivayo, however, framed the initiative as an expression of patriotism, saying it reflected his belief in “empowering communities through strategic investment in healthcare and infrastructure” under Mnangagwa’s “visionary leadership.”
