Published: 52 mins ago

Wicknell Chivayo's lavish gifts to employees at Zimpapers' Capitalk FM have triggered a major corporate governance dispute, with the media group reaffirming that staff who accept expensive gifts risk dismissal.

The controversy erupted after Capitalk FM presenter Phathisani Sibanda accepted a vehicle from Chivayo, while station manager Yvonne Tivatye also received a car. Chivayo further pledged US$1 000 to each employee in the company's radio division, alongside interest-free loans and a heavily subsidised house offer for Sibanda.

Following the uproar, Zimpapers convened a meeting of its Sustainability and Media Ethics Board Committee on Wednesday, after which management issued a directive reminding staff to comply with the company's Gift Declaration Policy.

"The board mandated Zimpapers management and staff to adhere to the company's Gift Declaration Policy in order to maintain the company's integrity. Please be guided accordingly," the notice read.

Under the company's policy, employees are only allowed to accept gifts valued at up to US$100.

Chivayo reacted angrily on social media, accusing Zimpapers of hypocrisy and attacking the company over workers' salaries and conditions of service.

"What upsets me the most is most companies go three or four months without paying workers salaries but superiors raise their big heads and try to apply so-called corporate governance rules when they receive amazing gestures like this," he posted on X.

"Salaries on time first and good working conditions then apply your corporate governance later, or else be the first CEO to break those senseless rules."

He also mocked the company's gift threshold, sarcastically claiming that the Toyota Fortuner GD6 handed to Sibanda had been discounted to US$100 while the Toyota Aqua given to Tivatye was supposedly worth US$50.

Beyond the vehicles, Chivayo announced that Sibanda would receive a house in Waterfalls, Harare, valued at US$150 000 for a payment of just US$80. He also pledged interest-free US$2 000 loans to all 30 employees in the radio division, repayable over 10 years with a five-year grace period.

"This is a very small transaction, so no security is required and no loan agreement will be signed," Chivayo said.

Reports indicate that Sibanda and Tivatye are expected to face disciplinary hearings within days after collecting their vehicles, a development that has intensified debate around ethics, corporate governance and the influence of wealthy benefactors in Zimbabwe's media industry.
- zimlive

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