A luxury Range Rover that the late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo publicly announced as a gift to prominent lawyer Lewis Uriri has become the centre of a controversy after documents reportedly suggested that the vehicle was imported using the lawyer’s personal details without his knowledge.
The latest revelations have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s importation, the payment of customs duties and the handling of a lavish gift that was publicly announced just days before Chivayo’s death in a helicopter crash.
According to a report by ZimLive, the luxury vehicle was purchased from Johannesburg-based dealer Verve Auto Sports for approximately KSh 21.7 million.
However, what appeared to be a generous gesture from one of Zimbabwe’s wealthiest businessmen has now taken a complicated turn, with documents reportedly indicating that the vehicle was cleared through the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) using Uriri’s details.
The reported developments have sparked questions about whether the lawyer had any knowledge of the importation process and how his personal identification documents came to be associated with the transaction.
How the KSh 32 Million Gift Became Controversial
Chivayo publicly announced the luxury gift on Facebook on September 21, presenting it as a token of appreciation for the legal services Uriri had provided over the years.
The businessman reportedly valued the entire package at approximately KSh 32 million, including the Range Rover and an additional KSh 6.5 million allocated for fuel.
At the time, the announcement appeared to be another example of Chivayo’s widely publicised generosity, which frequently attracted attention across social media.
However, Uriri reportedly rejected both the vehicle and the cash, explaining that the announcement had been made without prior notice or consultation.
The lawyer also expressed concern that accepting such a substantial gift could create the impression that he had incurred a financial obligation to Chivayo.
His concerns were particularly significant because he was part of a legal team representing activists challenging constitutional amendments that extended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term.
In such circumstances, Uriri reportedly wanted to avoid any suggestion that a multimillion-shilling gift could compromise his independence or create a perception of conflict of interest.
Passport Details Raise Questions Over Importation
According to ZimLive, documents relating to the vehicle’s clearance reportedly show that import duty amounting to approximately KSh 9.6 million was paid in Uriri’s name.
The documents allegedly relied on an uncertified copy of a passport that Uriri had cancelled in 2024 after running out of pages.
This detail has become one of the most contentious aspects of the controversy, raising questions about how the identification document was obtained and used in connection with the vehicle’s importation.
The reported paperwork has also prompted scrutiny of the procedures followed during the customs clearance process.
An advocate who reviewed the documents reportedly told ZimLive that the importation paperwork appeared to contain contradictory information, arguing that the document effectively misrepresented its own contents.
The advocate further argued that Chivayo should have imported the vehicle in his own name before formally transferring ownership to the intended recipient.
The legal expert reportedly went further, suggesting that the vehicle should be forfeited to the state.
However, these are reported legal opinions, and the available information does not establish that a court has ruled the vehicle was fraudulently imported or ordered its forfeiture.
Chivayo Redirected the Gift Before His Death
Following Uriri’s refusal to accept the luxury vehicle and the accompanying cash, Chivayo reportedly redirected the gift to advocate Silvester Hashiti.
However, the businessman died before Hashiti could collect the Range Rover.
Chivayo was killed in a helicopter crash near Marondera, Zimbabwe, just nine days after publicly announcing the gift to Uriri.
His death has complicated the matter because questions surrounding the vehicle must now be addressed through the appropriate representatives of his estate.
According to the report, Exquisite Motors in Harare, where the vehicle had been intended to be stored, directed Hashiti to the executor of Chivayo’s estate.
The situation has left the vehicle’s ownership and eventual transfer subject to questions that may require clarification from the estate’s representatives and relevant authorities.
ZIMRA Declines to Comment as Dealership Distances Itself
The controversy has also drawn attention to the role of the authorities and businesses involved in the vehicle’s movement into Zimbabwe.
ZIMRA reportedly declined to comment on the matter, citing confidentiality requirements.
Meanwhile, Exquisite Motors owner Victor Vikela told ZimLive that his company had only stored the vehicle and had not participated in its importation.
Vikela also indicated that the Range Rover had since been moved, but he did not disclose its current location.
His remarks appear to separate the dealership’s storage role from the disputed customs process, although the full chain of events surrounding the vehicle remains unclear.
Questions Remain Over the Luxury Vehicle
The Range Rover controversy has added another complicated chapter to the public story of Chivayo, whose extravagant gifts and high-profile spending frequently attracted attention in Zimbabwe and beyond.
What was initially presented as a generous reward for years of legal service has evolved into a dispute involving personal identification documents, customs procedures, the refusal of a multimillion-shilling gift and questions about the vehicle’s ownership.
At the centre of the controversy are several unresolved questions: who authorised the use of Uriri’s passport details, whether the customs documentation was properly processed, and who is legally entitled to the vehicle following Chivayo’s death.
For now, the reported documents and statements have raised serious questions, but the allegations have not been established as proven criminal wrongdoing.
As scrutiny continues, clarification from the relevant authorities and the late businessman’s estate may be necessary to establish how the Range Rover was imported and determine its rightful ownership.
