Top lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri rejected a US$350,000 gift from businessman Wicknell Chivayo, citing professional independence and integrity, according to statements posted on X. Chivayo publicly offered the attorney a US$250,000 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography and US$50,000 in cash, along with an additional US$50,000 handbag allowance for Uriri’s wife, before Uriri declined the gesture within two hours.
Advocate Lewis Uriri Declines Wicknell Chivayo’s US$350,000 Gift
Wicknell Chivayo announced the lavish offer on X on Monday morning. Chivayo praised Advocate Lewis Uriri as a loyal and outstanding lawyer, pointing to Uriri’s past work representing President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the 2018 presidential election challenge at the Constitutional Court.
The businessman instructed Uriri to collect the vehicle from a contact named Victor and stated that Uriri’s wife, also a senior and competent lawyer, should receive a separate cash allowance. However, Uriri publicly turned down the entire package less than two hours later.
Did you know? Advocate Lewis Uriri previously represented President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the 2018 presidential election challenge at the Constitutional Court, according to public records.
Reasons for Rejecting the Luxury Vehicle and Cash Offers
Advocate Lewis Uriri stated that accepting the gift could create a perception of personal financial obligation that might undermine his professional standing. According to Uriri, all historical legal work performed for Chivayo had already been fully remunerated.
“Your announcement came as a complete surprise, without prior notice or discussion,” Uriri wrote in his public response on X. He emphasized that the substantial nature of the gifts and their express connection to past professional services required him to approach the gesture with caution.
Professional Ethics and Legal Codes Governing the Decision
To justify his refusal, Advocate Lewis Uriri pointed directly to established legal frameworks. According to Uriri, Zimbabwe’s Legal Practitioners’ Code of Conduct requires attorneys to preserve integrity, safeguard professional independence, and maintain public confidence.
Uriri also referenced international standards, noting that the International Bar Association’s principles and the International Commission of Jurists’ writings emphasize that a lawyer’s professional judgment must remain independent and free from conflicting personal interests.
Broader Context of Chivayo’s High-Profile Gifts
The offer to Advocate Lewis Uriri follows a pattern of high-profile gifts distributed by Wicknell Chivayo to prominent figures in Zimbabwe. Earlier, cleric Emmanuel Makandiwa of the United Family International Church (UFIC) accepted a US$1 million gift offer, which included a 2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon for him and his wife.
Conversely, Uriri is the second prominent figure to reject Chivayo’s offers. Dr Eunor Guti, the wife of the late founder and Archbishop of ZAOGA FIF Ezekiel Guti, previously turned down gifts reportedly worth more than US$250,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Advocate Lewis Uriri reject Wicknell Chivayo’s gift?
Uriri stated that accepting the US$350,000 gift could undermine his professional independence, integrity, and public confidence, noting that his past legal services had already been paid in full.
What was included in Wicknell Chivayo’s offer?
The offer included a 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography valued at US$250,000, US$50,000 in cash for fuel, and an additional US$50,000 handbag allowance for Uriri’s wife.
Who else has rejected gifts from Wicknell Chivayo?
Dr Eunor Guti, the wife of the late Archbishop Ezekiel Guti, also turned down gifts reportedly valued at more than US$250,000.
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