HARARE – The Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) has ordered staff to reject gifts handed out by controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo during an appearance on Capitalk FM, giving presenter Phathisani Sibanda an ultimatum: turn down a new vehicle or resign immediately.
Chivayo gave $30,000 cash for “lunch” to be shared among 30 Zimpapers employees in the radio division during the visit, and separately offered to upgrade Sibanda’s Toyota Aqua to a 2025 Toyota GD6.
Under a gifts policy introduced in 2024, Zimpapers prohibits staff from accepting gifts valued at more than $100. The gift must also be declared to the company.
Each of the 30 staff members will be permitted to keep $100, but the remaining $27,000 must be returned to Chivayo.
The policy was introduced, ironically, after Chivayo donated the Aqua to Sibanda during a separate radio appearance in 2024 – at which point Sibanda was an independent contractor and no action could be taken against him. He joined Zimpapers as a full employee in January this year.
A company executive who declined to be named said the gifts policy was designed to “maintain editorial standards” and “remove any appearance of bribery.”
MZimpapers CEO William Chikoto said: “This is in compliance with the gift policy. They are not allowed to accept anything with a value of more than US$100.”
Zimpapers insiders said the company has separately suggested that the $27,000 that remains – after the 30 workers receive their $100 each – could instead be redirected as a donation to the company and used to acquire vehicles for general staff use.
