Online Reporter
Online Reporter
Lawyer Wilson Manase says businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s final gift to him was far more than a luxury car and a substantial cash gift as it was a deeply personal gesture reflecting nearly three decades of loyalty, friendship and shared adversity.
Shortly before his death, Chivayo gifted Manase a brand-new 2026 Lexus GX 550 valued at US$220 000, along with US$250 000 in cash, describing it as his way of “saving the best for last” for a man who had stood by him since 1998.
Manase said Chivayo called him to tell him about the gift after noticing he had not contacted him to say thank you.
“I spoke to Chivayo, he is the one who called me and said, Chairman, you have not phoned me,” Manase said.
“I said, why? He said, I gave you a gift. I said, thank you, but I haven’t seen it.
“He said, go and see your gift, it’s at Exquisite. I went, I saw the car, I was happy.
“He says, look, I saved the best for the last. You walked with me where some people wanted me to be pricked by thorns.”
While acknowledging that the vehicle was beautiful, Manase said the material value of the gift was not what mattered most to him.
“Beautiful car, but you know, cars are not what I really epitomise. But if it’s a gift, genuinely given from the heart for the expression he gave in his story, I can’t refuse,” he said.
Manase said Chivayo’s words reflected the difficult journey they travelled together over the years.
“He said, you know what? You have saved me, and you have done a lot with me. You walked a thorny journey,” he said.
“But I am saying saving the best for last because of the journey we have walked from 1998, you never left.”
