Zimbabwean Mogul Emerges as Africa’s Top Donor in 2024 – Surpassing Aliko Dangote
Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has outshone Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, in a surprise twist on the 2024 list of Africa’s top philanthropists.
According to a report by Fortune Afrika titled “Giants of Generosity: Africa’s Top Philanthropists Shaping the Continent’s Future”, Chivayo donated a jaw-dropping US$60 million last year — placing him above Dangote and second only to Nigerian banker Tony Elumelu.
Unlike Dangote and Elumelu, who donate through formal foundations, Chivayo’s generosity is raw, direct, and unpredictable.
His informal, grassroots approach — gifting more than 150 vehicles, large sums of cash, and sponsoring various musicians, footballers, churches, and content creators — made him Southern Africa’s biggest individual donor in 2024.
“Chivayo represents a new wave of African philanthropy — not bound by tradition but focused on direct impact,” the report noted.
Though his methods have divided public opinion — with some praising his life-changing gestures and others criticizing the lack of structure and transparency — the numbers speak volumes.
Even Dangote, known for multimillion-dollar health and education projects, trailed behind Chivayo’s record-breaking total for the year.
This milestone marks a rare moment of international recognition for a Zimbabwean businessman.
While Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s wealthiest individual, it is Chivayo’s flamboyant and fast-paced giving style that dominated headlines and warmed hearts across the continent.
