HARARE – Property tycoon Philip Chiyangwa has moved to repair his relationship with millionaire businessman Wicknell Chivayo, issuing a carefully worded letter that appears aimed at distancing himself from a bitter fallout between Chivayo and his former business partners Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu.
Chiyangwa’s intervention follows comments by Chivayo during an appearance on The Denny Show podcast in which he accused the veteran businessman of taking Chimombe’s side during their dispute.
Chivayo said the fallout had deeply affected him because he had regarded Chiyangwa as someone he “genuinely loved” and looked up to.
“After my feud and my fight with the Mike Chimombes he kind of like took a side. He was close to Mike Chimombe,” Chivayo said.
“I remember driving to the Zanu PF headquarters in my Rolls Royce and he was with Mike. They ignored me. If you see people fighting don’t take a side. He could have said Mike you’re my nephew or however they relate, and this one is my young man he supported me when I was ZIFA president and gave us $1 million.
“He could have said fight your battles but don’t involve me. Instead, he recorded videos saying ‘we won’t rest until you guys get your money (from Chivayo).’ From there that strained our relationship because he’s somebody that I really looked up to, somebody I genuinely loved.”
Chivayo said the fallout became particularly painful after voice notes exchanged during the dispute were leaked.
“That was one of the worst moments in my life when voice notes were circulating. When you try and mess my relationship with the president that’s the worst thing anyone could have ever done in my life,” he said, referring to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chimombe and Mpofu had fallen out with Chivayo over money they said they were owed from a business deal. The dispute escalated after the circulation of voice notes which Chivayo said were calculated to damage his relationship with Mnangagwa.
The two men were subsequently arrested and convicted of fraud after they secured a US$7 million government tender using fraudulent documents. They were given lengthy jail sentences.
Chiyangwa has now written directly to Chivayo, seeking to set the record straight and insisting that he never considered the younger businessman an enemy.
“I wish to make it abundantly clear that at no point have I regarded you as an enemy,” Chiyangwa wrote in the open letter. “On the contrary, I have always held you in high esteem and remain deeply grateful for the support and assistance you have rendered over the years.”
Chiyangwa said his involvement with Chimombe at the height of the dispute came after two unnamed senior government ministers approached him and asked him to intervene.
“At the time in question, I was approached by two prominent ministers (who will contact you directly) who requested that I intervene and engage Mr Chimombe,” he said.
“Their concern was that the continued public allegations and commentary being made against you were causing considerable embarrassment and attracting widespread public attention. I was therefore asked to speak to Mr Chimombe and encourage him to withdraw the allegations and public statements he had been making.”
He said that, while travelling to a meeting at Zanu PF headquarters, he contacted Chimombe, who came to meet him.
Chiyangwa also addressed an incident referenced by Chivayo in which he said he had seen a vehicle associated with the businessman outside the Zanu PF headquarters while he was with Chimombe.
“During the course of that engagement, I personally observed a vehicle bearing the registration number ‘Chibaba’, which I understood to be associated with you,” Chiyangwa wrote.
“This observation was incidental and formed no part of the purpose for which I had been requested to engage Mr Chimombe.”
Chiyangwa said he regretted that events from the dispute had created the impression that he was hostile towards Chivayo.
“It is unfortunate when historical events are revisited without the full context being presented, as this can create the impression of hostility where none exists,” he wrote.
“I do not view you in a negative light, nor have I ever harboured ill will towards you. On the contrary, I value our association and the goodwill that has existed between us.”
He also reminded Chivayo of his support for ZIFA when Chivayo was the football body’s president.
“In particular, I continue to appreciate the role you played when assistance was needed by ZIFA. Your intervention and support at that time are matters that I have neither forgotten nor taken for granted,” Chiyangwa wrote.
The letter ends with what amounts to an appeal for the relationship to be restored, with Chiyangwa expressing a desire for their ties to return to normal.
“My hope is that this clarification will assist in setting the record straight, dispelling any misunderstandings, and reaffirming my respect, appreciation, and goodwill towards you,” he wrote.
“I also wish to take this opportunity to express my desire that our relationship remains normal, cordial and constructive, as it has always been from my perspective.”
Chiyangwa signed off by telling Chivayo that he remained grateful for his “friendship, support and goodwill” and looked forward to “maintaining and strengthening the cordial relationship that has always existed between us.”
