WATCH: VP Chiwenga Takes Sly Dig At Wicknell Chivayo During Speech

Chiwenga Calls Out Promises Of Cars, Public Links Comment To Chivayo

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga appeared to take a sly dig at controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo during a public address in Harare. The Vice President was speaking at the Anti-Drug & Substance Abuse Campaign held at New Highfields Roman Catholic Church, where thousands of young people had gathered to hear his message against addiction.

‘Some Are Promising Vehicles’

Chiwenga took aim at those fuelling substance abuse and misleading young people with flashy incentives. While addressing the crowd, he remarked:

“Some of those are are being promised vehicles.”

The comment immediately drew attention, with many in the audience linking it to Chivayo, who has made headlines for gifting luxury cars and large sums of cash to celebrities, social media personalities, and individuals who praise him, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, or the ruling ZANU PF party.

VP Chiwenga, yesterday warned @wicknellchivayo
He was speaking at an Anti-Drug & Substance Abuse Campaign at the New Highfields Roman Catholic Church, rallying thousands of yths to take a stand against addiction@nickmangwana, @Jamwanda2& @InfoMinZW did not publish this program pic.twitter.com/fwpjg6Pket

— COZWVA (@cozwva) August 18, 2025

Past Jibes At Tenderpreneurs

This is not the first time that Vice President Chiwenga has made thinly veiled remarks against questionable business practices.

In June 2024, speaking at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce congress in Victoria Falls, he warned against the rise of what he termed “phantom entrepreneurship.” He told delegates:

“We must shun unscrupulous, so-called business people operating from briefcases with no traceable capital or legitimate enterprise. This culture of phantom entrepreneurship, where money appears without any known source, is not only economically corrosive, but ethically bankrupt.”

The Vice President added:

“We all know that money does not fall from the heavens like manna, the time of Moses is no longer here. Real businesses are built through hard work, discipline, sacrifice and value creation. The day of reckoning is inevitable for those who undermine our economic integrity by engaging in shadowy dealings. It’s coming.”

The comments came at a time when the government had just awarded a US$437 million (about R8 billion) tender for cancer equipment to Chivayo’s company, TTM Global Medical Exports. The firm, which was only six months old at the time, listed its registered address as a hotel room in Johannesburg.

A History Of Sharp Words

Earlier in April 2024, Chiwenga warned that Zimbabwe’s independence had not been fought for to enrich a small connected elite.

In January 2024, he also used the term “zvigananda” (loosely translated as showy tenderpreneurs) to describe those flaunting unexplained wealth.

Following that statement, Chivayo responded with apparent humour by adopting the label himself. On social media, he began referring to himself as “Chigananda,” seemingly mocking the criticism.