SHOCK WARNING: Free Chivayo Cars Could Land Recipients in Jail for 25 YEARS and Cost Them $500,000!
HARARE — Human rights lawyer Doug Coltart has stated that recipients of certain luxury vehicles distributed in Zimbabwe may have committed criminal offences under the country’s anti-money laundering laws and face potential sentences of up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to US$500,000.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Coltart wrote: “In my professional legal opinion, everyone who has received one of those cars has committed a criminal offence and may be liable to be imprisoned for up to 25 years in jail and to pay a fine of up to US$500,000. Read section 8(3)-(6) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act below and understand.”
He attached screenshots of the relevant provisions from the legislation.
Section 8(3) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24] provides that any person who acquires, uses or possesses property, knowing or suspecting at the time of receipt that such property is the proceeds of crime, commits an offence.
Related subsections address participation, association, conspiracy, attempts, aiding and abetting; allow knowledge or suspicion to be inferred from objective factual circumstances; and state that it is not necessary to prove a conviction for the underlying offence or identify a specific offence or particular person who committed it.
The penalties under the Act for these offences include a fine not exceeding US$500,000 or not exceeding twice the value of the property involved or the gain derived by the offender (whichever is greater), imprisonment for a period not exceeding 25 years, or both.
Coltart, a partner at Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, posted the comments amid ongoing public discussion of high-profile gifts of luxury vehicles and cash by businessman Wicknell Chivayo and President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself.
Chivayo has publicly distributed numerous high-end cars — including models such as Range Rovers, Rolls-Royces, Maybachs, Toyota Land Cruisers, Fortuners and Hilux GD6s — along with cash amounts often described as fuel money, to religious leaders, musicians, media personalities, Members of Parliament and others
recent months and years.
Recipients have included figures such as Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and his wife, other church workers, various artists and at least some legislators. In one recent high-profile case, senior counsel Lewis Uriri publicly declined a package from Chivayo that included a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography and cash gifts, citing professional ethics and independence.
Chivayo’s gifts have drawn scrutiny over the sources of the funds used to purchase the vehicles.
Critics, including other legal and political figures, have previously raised concerns that accepting such items could implicate recipients under proceeds-of-crime provisions if there is knowledge or suspicion that the funds derive from corruption or other serious offences.
Similar warnings referencing the same legislation have been issued in the past regarding large donations or gifts from sources viewed as dubious.
No immediate public response from Chivayo or from named recipients addressing Coltart’s specific legal opinion was available at the time of writing.
Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit has separately identified the car dealership sector as high-risk for money laundering due to its cash-intensive nature and limited regulation.
Coltart’s post had attracted significant engagement on the platform within hours of being published.
Recipients have included figures such as Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and his wife, other church workers, various artists and at least some legislators. In one recent high-profile case, senior counsel Lewis Uriri publicly declined a package from Chivayo that included a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography and cash gifts, citing professional ethics and independence.
Chivayo’s gifts have drawn scrutiny over the sources of the funds used to purchase the vehicles.
Critics, including other legal and political figures, have previously raised concerns that accepting such items could implicate recipients under proceeds-of-crime provisions if there is knowledge or suspicion that the funds derive from corruption or other serious offences.
Similar warnings referencing the same legislation have been issued in the past regarding large donations or gifts from sources viewed as dubious.
No immediate public response from Chivayo or from named recipients addressing Coltart’s specific legal opinion was available at the time of writing
Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit has separately identified the car dealership sector as high-risk for money laundering due to its cash-intensive nature and limited regulation.
Coltart’s post had attracted significant engagement on the platform within hours of being published.