Eunor Guti, widow of the late ZAOGA founder and Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Guti, has publicly explained her reasons for turning down a luxurious gift from controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
In May, Chivayo offered her a brand-new 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser VXR 300 Series along with US$250,000 in cash. He claimed the gift was a gesture of honor toward the late archbishop and announced it on his social media, stating the car was fully paid for and ready to be delivered, pending approval from the church’s leadership.
“Normally, I’d say go see Farai at Faramatsi Motors, but this time Farai will come to you directly with your brand-new 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series VXR,” Chivayo wrote online. “It’s ready for delivery, and in addition, please accept USD250,000 in cash for fuel and personal expenses.”
Despite the grandeur of the offer, Guti declined. Speaking to her congregation, she said accepting such a gift would have contradicted both her own principles and those of her late husband.
“There was no divine purpose in it,” she told her audience. “They can use that money elsewhere. We don’t need it—not even for our church initiatives.”
The offer caused mixed reactions within the church. Some leaders encouraged her to accept, while others cautioned that it might harm the church’s image due to concerns about Chivayo’s financial dealings.
She recounted how an unfamiliar individual was sent to persuade her to reconsider. “He was very persistent, trying to pressure me into taking the offer,” she said. “I told him I needed to pray about it, but deep down, I already knew my answer was no.”
Guti explained that she informed the Day-to-Day Board at ZAOGA that she wouldn’t be accepting the vehicle, as she already owned one and didn’t need another.
“We never saw our father receive money like that,” she added. “Why should we start doing it now? We are not in need. We won’t accept money we don’t understand.”
She also mentioned that another person had recently approached the church with an offer of US$2 million, which she also rejected, stating it did not reflect what she believed to be God’s will.
Wicknell Chivayo has drawn criticism for frequently gifting high-end vehicles and cash to clergy and political figures, and has remained a divisive personality due to ongoing concerns about the legitimacy of his wealth and government contracts.
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