The death of flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has taken a mysterious turn following the circulation of an audio recording allegedly sent by the late businessman to self-styled prophet Christopher Guzha, popularly known as Madzibaba DVD.
The recording has rapidly spread across social media, attracting intense speculation because of its alleged contents and its emergence shortly after Chivayo died in a helicopter crash near Marondera last Wednesday.
In the audio, which has been described as authentic by those familiar with it, a voice said to be Chivayo’s can reportedly be heard expressing gratitude to Madzibaba DVD for providing him with what he referred to as lucky charms.
According to the recording, Chivayo appeared to credit the prophet’s assistance with helping him gain favour with President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The claims have generated considerable debate online, with many people questioning the nature of the relationship between the wealthy businessman and the religious figure.
But what has particularly captured public attention is Chivayo’s alleged reference to what he described as a final ritual.
In the recording, Chivayo reportedly asks about Madzibaba DVD’s availability to travel to Lake Kariba for a ceremony. The alleged ritual was said to involve taking a clay pot containing ritual objects and lowering it into the depths of the lake.
The unusual details have fuelled speculation among social media users, particularly because the audio emerged following Chivayo’s sudden death. However, there is no established evidence linking the alleged ritual to the helicopter crash, and such claims remain the subject of public speculation.
The relationship between the businessman and the prophet reportedly extended beyond spiritual matters.
Chivayo is alleged to have promised Madzibaba DVD a vehicle once his business ventures began succeeding. According to reports, the businessman eventually fulfilled that promise, giving the preacher a brand-new Toyota Fortuner as well as a bus.
Prophet Arrested
The controversy surrounding the recording deepened after Madzibaba DVD was reportedly arrested in Goromonzi on Sunday.
The prophet has been accused of being the person behind the circulation of the audio, although that allegation has not been independently established in the public domain.
Law enforcement sources reportedly said he was arrested over an unrelated armed robbery case involving an EcoCash agent who allegedly lost USD 12,000.
Guzha is expected to appear before a regional court in Marondera on Monday, where details surrounding the allegations against him are expected to emerge.
His arrest has nevertheless attracted widespread attention because of his reported association with Chivayo, who was a prominent and controversial figure in Zimbabwe’s business and political circles.
The timing has inevitably raised questions among members of the public, with some wondering whether the arrest and the viral recording are connected to Chivayo’s final days.
For now, however, many of the claims circulating online remain allegations, and authorities have yet to publicly establish any connection between the audio, the reported ritual, and Chivayo’s fatal helicopter crash.
What began as a private recording has therefore become another chapter in the growing mystery surrounding the death of one of Zimbabwe’s most talked-about businessmen.
