Business mogul Wicknell Chivayo sent shockwaves through State House on Friday after dropping an unprecedented $600,000 to claim President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signature scarf during the Angel of Hope Foundation’s Christmas fundraising dinner.
The high-stakes drama erupted when President Mnangagwa unexpectedly removed the scarf mid-event and handed it over for auction, drawing cheers as he cracked a light-hearted joke about handing over power.
An aide immediately replaced it with a fresh one as the room buzzed with excitement.
Chivayo’s blockbuster purchase comes on the heels of his $1 million donation to Dudley Hall Primary School in Norton, where two new dormitories will soon bear the names of the First Couple.
Bidding opened quietly, with Zimbabwe’s top business figures nudging the price upward.
FS Mining appeared ready to clinch the prized item at $250,000 until Chivayo stepped into the fray.
His $450,000 bid nearly sealed the deal until the president’s twin son, Collins Mnangagwa, cheekily pushed it to $500,000 in a bid to boost fundraising efforts.
Chivayo responded with a knockout $600,000 offer that brought the auction to an abrupt halt.
The mega bid reinforces Chivayo’s reputation for over-the-top philanthropy, even as debate lingers over the true depth and origin of his vast fortune.
