ZRP Dismisses Statement Naming Wicknell Chivayo As Wanted

Wicknell Chivayo Press Statement Goes Viral — Police Say It’s Fake

A fake police statement claiming that controversial businessman and tenderpreneur Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo was being sought for questioning by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has gone viral, prompting an official response from the police who have labelled the document “false and misleading.”

ZRP Dismisses The Fake Notice

In an official statement issued on 2 November 2025, the ZRP disowned the viral document, warning the public not to fall for fake news circulating on social media platforms.

According to the ZRP’s verified X account (@PoliceZimbabwe), the police said:

“Reference is made to a fake press statement that has gone viral on social media platforms. The press statement did not originate from the official ZRP communication channels. Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard it as false and misleading.”

The official police communication went further to confirm that investigations were already underway to track down those responsible for spreading the forged statement.

“The ZRP is aware of individuals and groups responsible for circulating the fake press statement and appropriate investigations are underway. The public is urged to rely only on information released through the official ZRP platforms and verified media sources.”

The fake statement, dated 1 November 2025, appeared to have been drafted to look like an authentic internal memorandum from Police General Headquarters. It was headed “ZRP PRESS STATEMENT” and falsely claimed to be signed by Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the Chief Staff Officer (Press and Public Relations) to the Commissioner-General of Police.

The Fake Statement’s False Claims

The forged document read in part:

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is looking for Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo in connection with a fraud investigation and related criminal activities. Evidence gathered to date indicates that Mr Chivayo knowingly and wilfully participated in a fraudulent scheme designed to obtain money and/or property through false representations, deceptive practices, and the manipulation of financial documents and communications.”

It went on to allege that the businessman had been requested to report to Harare Central Police Station for questioning.

Online Reactions

Following the clarification from the ZRP, social media erupted with mixed reactions. Some users mocked the situation, others accused the authorities of double standards, while a few called for calm.

One user under the handle @DaddyRosheen joked, “Dzaita kufonerwa kuti login izvezvi” (He’s being called to log in right now). Another, @Chamakanda58, questioned the police’s integrity, posting, “Why would the public rely on information from a criminal organisation?”

Others expressed scepticism. @FosterFossy wrote, “Call it fake even if it was real, you were not going to do anything because he’s feeding you.”

A different user, @ArthurT6343, added, “Saka maphone anga achitorira husiku hwese kuti pane tsamba yaburitswa endai paX munoramba kuti hatizivi.” (So you spent the whole night taking phone calls because a statement came out, and now you need to deny it on X).

The Official Warning

Despite the backlash, the police reiterated their stance that the statement was entirely fabricated and reminded the public to verify information before sharing.

“Members of the public are advised to rely only on information released through the official ZRP platforms and verified media sources,” the post concluded.