Controversial businessman and convicted fraudster Wicknell Chivayo is once again at the centre of public scrutiny—this time over his recent “gift” to veteran state broadcaster journalist Reuben Barwe. The gift, according to sources, amounted to no more than USD370, a sum many are calling “insulting” given Barwe’s 45-year career in Zimbabwe’s public media sector.
While Chivayo has made headlines in recent months for dishing out cars, cash, and high-value donations to celebrities and politically connected individuals, the gesture to Barwe—who is widely recognised as one of Zimbabwe’s longest-serving media professionals—has triggered a wave of criticism, not for its presence, but for its paltry size and the manner in which it was handled.
Barwe, now 69, has spent more than four decades reporting for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and is considered by many to be a fixture in the country’s state-controlled media landscape. Despite his longevity, sources indicate that his earnings have been meagre throughout his career, reportedly averaging less than USD700 per month. Worse still, the ZBC is said to have failed to contribute to his pension fund over the years, meaning Barwe is set to retire without a financial safety net.
Chivayo Allegedly Gave Barwe USD370, Sought Adoration in Return
Into this reality steps Chivayo, who has built a reputation as a flamboyant “philanthropist” with a fondness for grandiose handouts. Known for gifting luxury cars and bundles of U.S. dollars to musicians and influencers, Chivayo’s public acts of generosity are often accompanied by video recordings, selfies, and statements of praise from beneficiaries.
In Barwe’s case, Chivayo allegedly demanded that the elderly journalist record a thank-you video in exchange for the USD370 cash gift. This sparked an immediate backlash on social media, with critics accusing Chivayo of using meagre donations as tools for self-glorification rather than genuine benevolence.
“This is not philanthropy—it’s humiliation,” said one critic on X (formerly Twitter). “To make a man your father’s age record a thank-you video for a few hundred dollars, while you drive away in a USD200,000 car? It’s disgraceful.”
Observers have pointed out that the USD370 given to Barwe doesn’t come close to reflecting the sort of lavish spending Chivayo has demonstrated in his recent interactions. In one now-viral video, Chivayo was seen accepting bundles of USD100,000 in cash. In another instance, he gifted a Toyota Land Cruiser worth over USD200,000 to a ZANU-PF youth leader. Against that backdrop, Barwe’s gesture has been labelled “a slap in the face.””What Barwe received isn’t even a car tyre from Chivayo’s garage,” another social media user quipped.
ZimEye estimates that even if one were to attempt to account for Barwe’s underpayment over his 45-year career, adjusting the USD200,000 “benchmark” used in recent public gifts would yield a figure far higher than USD370. Factoring that over 45 years, it amounts to just over USD8 per year—a sum that hardly compensates for a lifetime of service in the national media.
Analysts argue that Chivayo’s calculated generosity is more about political branding and less about justice or gratitude. His repeated donations to individuals with political connections—often recorded and shared online—have left many questioning the motives behind his so-called philanthropy.
“The pattern is clear: large handouts to the young and politically active, token gestures to the elderly and forgotten,” said a Harare-based political analyst. “Barwe represents the past. Chivayo is positioning himself for the future, and he’s using cash as a ladder.”
The controversy has also reignited debate over the dire financial state of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and the working conditions of its employees. Reports suggest that beyond low salaries, the state broadcaster has routinely failed to contribute to pension funds, leaving many long-serving workers like Barwe vulnerable as they approach retirement.
“Barwe’s case is not unique,” said a former ZBC employee. “There are dozens of us who will retire with nothing because ZBC didn’t fulfill its obligations. Chivayo’s gesture might seem like help, but it underscores the failure of our institutions to care for those who served them.”
As for Chivayo, the backlash seems unlikely to slow down his attention-grabbing public acts. Despite mounting criticism, he remains a polarising figure—heralded by supporters as a generous patriot and dismissed by critics as a showman exploiting poverty for personal gain.
For Reuben Barwe, the video of gratitude now circulates online—a haunting reminder, many say, of a career spent in loyal service, capped not by honour or dignity, but by a controversial USD370 and a forced thank-you.
Source – ZimEye
