Wicknell Chivayo's Range Rover gift to lawyer Lewis Uriri has raised fresh questions over an alleged customs scam in Zimbabwe. The late businessman's luxury SUV may have entered the country under Uriri's identity, with claims that someone used his canceled passport details without his consent.
At the center of the row is a 2026 Land Rover Autobiography bought from Verve Auto Sports in Johannesburg. The price came to R2,882,782, or about US$173,700. Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) also took US$74,460.57 in import taxes, equal to roughly R1,234,556.
Here's where the paperwork gets messy. Records suggest that Uriri appeared as the importer, yet he had no clue about the deal. The passport copy tied to his name lacked certification, and the real document had been voided after its pages ran out.
Advocate Thabani Mpofu checked the records and raised concerns about what they showed. In his view, the entry gave a false account of who brought in the car. He also questioned a customs payment made under Uriri's name, which he regarded as fake and unlawful.
Mpofu argued that Chivayo should have cleared the SUV under his name first, then handed it over as a legal gift. He even called for the state to seize the car.
Meanwhile, ZIMRA's Gladman Njani would not get into the case, as tax privacy rules barred him from sharing details. Victor Vikela of Exquisite Motors said his firm had only kept the SUV for Chivayo. He denied any role in buying it or getting it past customs.
The gift itself had already hit a snag. Chivayo had made the offer public on X, with another US$50,000, roughly R829,000, meant to cover fuel. Uriri turned it all down, making clear that no one had asked him about the plan in advance.
Later, Uriri chose not to discuss the issue and urged people to let Chivayo rest in peace. The businessman had died in a helicopter crash near Marondera.
Before his death, Chivayo had picked Advocate Silvester Hashiti as the next person to get the SUV. He had offered Hashiti another US$500,000, close to R8.29 million, as part of the deal. But the fatal crash came before he could hand over the gift.
At the center of the row is a 2026 Land Rover Autobiography bought from Verve Auto Sports in Johannesburg. The price came to R2,882,782, or about US$173,700. Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) also took US$74,460.57 in import taxes, equal to roughly R1,234,556.
Here's where the paperwork gets messy. Records suggest that Uriri appeared as the importer, yet he had no clue about the deal. The passport copy tied to his name lacked certification, and the real document had been voided after its pages ran out.
Advocate Thabani Mpofu checked the records and raised concerns about what they showed. In his view, the entry gave a false account of who brought in the car. He also questioned a customs payment made under Uriri's name, which he regarded as fake and unlawful.
Mpofu argued that Chivayo should have cleared the SUV under his name first, then handed it over as a legal gift. He even called for the state to seize the car.
Meanwhile, ZIMRA's Gladman Njani would not get into the case, as tax privacy rules barred him from sharing details. Victor Vikela of Exquisite Motors said his firm had only kept the SUV for Chivayo. He denied any role in buying it or getting it past customs.
The gift itself had already hit a snag. Chivayo had made the offer public on X, with another US$50,000, roughly R829,000, meant to cover fuel. Uriri turned it all down, making clear that no one had asked him about the plan in advance.
Later, Uriri chose not to discuss the issue and urged people to let Chivayo rest in peace. The businessman had died in a helicopter crash near Marondera.
Before his death, Chivayo had picked Advocate Silvester Hashiti as the next person to get the SUV. He had offered Hashiti another US$500,000, close to R8.29 million, as part of the deal. But the fatal crash came before he could hand over the gift.
