Chivayo donates new car, US$100k to Catholic Church

Herald Reporter

Businessman Wicknell Chivayo recently donated a brand-new Toyota Hilux D4D vehicle, a home solar system, in addition to US$100 000 cash to the Catholic Church’s St Gerard’s Parish in memory of his late mother.

The vehicle was bought at a cost of US$40 000 at Exquisite Cars in Harare.

Chivayo’s late mother Mrs Canisia Chivayo fellowshipped at the parish for 20 years.

Acknowledging the timely gesture in his correspondence with the businessman, which he said would make a “huge difference” in the parish’s “predicament”, St Gerard’s Parish Priest, Fr Mark Chikuni, said they would use the donated money to construct a prayer and meeting room for members of Chivayo’s late mother’s Sacred Heart Guild in her honour.

Also being contemplated is the completion of projects at the church’s International Shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Charlotte Brooke, Harare, using part of the funds.

“We pray that one day you will visit this sacred shrine and see how your mother has been immortalised,” wrote Fr Chikuni.

Citing the scriptures, the clergyman implored selfless givers, like Chivayo, to find encouragement in St Paul’s impartation in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, when he highlights that “anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely and anyone who sows generously will reap generously as well . . . for God loves a cheerful giver.”

A “cheerful giver”, Chivayo bought his church leader, Lawrence Lavious Katsiru and his wife Violet, two new off-road Toyota vehicles, a 2023 Hilux GR Sport and 2023 Fortuner VX, respectively, worth US$162 000 as Easter gifts.

The entrepreneur is a long time member of the Johane Masowe eChishanu apostolic church.