Zimpapers gives presenter ultimatum

…as group orders him to reject car or resign

STAFF WRITER

The Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) has ordered staff to reject gifts handed out by controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo during an appearance on Capitalk FM, giving presenter Phathisani Sibanda an ultimatum: turn down a new vehicle or resign immediately.

Chivayo gave $30,000 cash for “lunch” to be shared among 30 Zimpapers employees in the radio division during the visit, and separately offered to upgrade Sibanda’s Toyota Aqua to a 2025 Toyota GD6.

Under a gifts policy introduced in 2024, Zimpapers prohibits staff from accepting gifts valued at more than $100. The gift must also be declared to the company.

Each of the 30 staff members will be permitted to keep $100, but the remaining $27,000 must be returned to Chivayo.

The policy was introduced, ironically, after Chivayo donated the Aqua to Sibanda during a separate radio appearance in 2024 – at which point Sibanda was an independent contractor and no action could be taken against him. He joined Zimpapers as a full employee in January this year.

A company executive who declined to be named said the gifts policy was designed to “maintain editorial standards” and “remove any appearance of bribery.”

This publication has reached out to Zimpapers CEO William Chikoto for a comment.

Zimpapers insiders said the company has separately suggested that the $27,000 that remains – after the 30 workers receive their $100 each – could instead be redirected as a donation to the company and used to acquire vehicles for general staff use.