Wicknell Chivayo has said he will not be intimidated or moved by threats from “failed politicians,” in what appears to be a response to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Chiwenga who is acting in Mnangagwa’s absence on leave, recently warned corrupt individuals within the ruling ZANU PF party, accusing them of enriching themselves through ill-gotten gains.
He made these remarks at the burial of former Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Justin Mupamhanga, at the National Heroes Acre on Monday.
In his speech, Chiwenga referenced individuals who, during the liberation struggle, were known as “zvigananda,” a term used to describe people who had gained wealth through dishonest means.
Some interpreted this as a thinly veiled reference to Chivayo, who has been accused of amassing large sums from inflated state tenders.
In a statement posted on his social media pages on Wednesday, Chivayo responded, declaring that he would not be “moved by nor shaken by any veiled threats from failed politicians.” He wrote:
I will always support President E.D. Mnangagwa and ZANU PF’s vision, and no individual, Big or Small, can instill fear in me to decide otherwise. I will neither be moved by nor shaken by any veiled threats from failed politicians.
In the same statement, Chivayo also denied involvement in a letter allegedly written by him, which reportedly requested local banks permit him to withdraw up to US$20 million per month for various transactions.
In 2005, Chivayo was convicted of money laundering. He received a five-year prison sentence, with two years suspended. The case involved R837,000, which was part of the proceeds of a crime.
