By Dickson Bandera
Businessman Sir Wicknell Chivayo this Monday made headlines after gifting a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 VXR and US$250,000 cash to Dr. Eunor Guti, widow of the late Archbishop Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti, the revered founder of ZAOGA Forward in Faith Ministries.
The gesture, announced on what would have been Baba Guti’s 101st birthday, was described by Chivayo as a tribute to the late preacher’s century-long dedication to the Christian faith.
“Today, I wish to honour a distinguished man, a humble servant of God whom I had the privilege to call father,” Chivayo said in an emotional tribute posted online. “In recognition of 100 years of unmatched service to the body of Christ, I am profoundly humbled to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved mother, Dr. Eunor Guti.”
Chivayo has, over the past few months, been gifting vehicles to notable achievers across various sectors. Among the recipients are church leaders and their spouses, as well as the widows and children of late religious figures. Widows of late artistes such as Leornard Dembo and Oliver Mtukudzi have also benefited.
In his eulogy, Chivayo revealed that the luxury vehicle is fully paid for and ready for delivery, pending approval from the ZAOGA Church’s Governing Board. The US$250,000 in cash, he said, was intended “for fuel and your personal use.”
Professor E.H. Guti, who passed away on July 5, 2023, at the age of 100, was one of Zimbabwe’s most influential religious figures. From humble beginnings preaching under a eucalyptus tree in the 1960s, he built a global ministry that spans over 140 countries. His work included founding the Ezekiel Guti University, Mbuya Dorcas Hospital, and numerous other institutions focused on education, health, and social welfare.
“He gave birth to institutions of excellence that today carry the heartbeat of his vision,” Chivayo added. “You were indeed one of the greatest gifts that Zimbabwe has ever had.”
Dr. Eunor Guti, herself a long-time partner in her late husband’s ministry, has continued to lead the church with grace and strength following his passing.
The tribute has sparked widespread reactions across Zimbabwe, with many praising Chivayo’s gesture as fitting and generous, while others expressed amazement at the scale of the donation.
Chivayo concluded his eulogy by declaring, “Baba Guti, your journey may have ended, but your legacy is eternal.”
