HARARE – Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has once again set social media ablaze this time after unveiling his latest extravagant purchase: a US$79 million Gulfstream G700 private jet, one of the world’s most expensive aircraft.
The announcement, made via a slick video on his personal social media platforms, comes as Zimbabweans reel under economic hardship and hospitals across the country face critical shortages. In the video, Chivayo strokes a miniature model of the jet and boldly declares that he is “not a runner”, dismissing long-standing rumours that he is a front for President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Wonzwa umwe achiti Sir Wicknell ndi runner… zvovengwa ne muroyi chete,” Chivayo says in the clip, referring to critics who have accused him of profiteering off political connections.
The Jet of the Elite
According to Simple Flying, a respected aviation site, the Gulfstream G700 has a base price of US$79 million, which can rise to US$95 million with customisations. Chivayo plans to emblazon his initials—WMC 777—on the fuselage and wings of the aircraft.
Industry experts estimate the annual operating cost of the jet exceeds US$5 million, including pilot salaries, fuel, hangar storage, and maintenance.
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Lavish Lifestyle or State Capture?
Chivayo, long known for parading wealth and gifting luxury cars to musicians and church leaders, has faced accusations of benefiting from corrupt state tenders in energy, health procurement, and alleged illicit dealings in gold and diamonds. Despite never being convicted, his proximity to President Mnangagwa continues to draw public scrutiny.
Just last year, Chivayo was linked to dodgy contracts involving millions of dollars in public funds, and was infamously photographed alongside Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) officials during the 2023 election period raising concerns over state capture and compromised institutions.
Public Backlash
News of the purchase has prompted fierce backlash from Zimbabweans both at home and abroad. Many have questioned how a businessman with no known global operations or public audited accounts can afford such a luxury.
“This is the clearest sign yet of how impunity has become a badge of honour in Zimbabwe,” said a Harare-based economist. “While civil servants beg for salaries and hospitals go without paracetamol, some are flying private.”
Silence from Government
Neither the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) nor the Ministry of Finance have commented on the jet purchase. Calls for a lifestyle audit have grown louder, with critics demanding a parliamentary inquiry into how individuals close to power are amassing unexplained wealth.
As the story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Chivayo’s G700 is not just a jet. It is a symbol of Zimbabwe’s widening inequality, murky patronage networks, and the politics of spectacle.
