MAPFUMO–CHIVAYO US$1.5 MILLION DEAL URGED FOR U.S. INVESTIGATION AS VIOLET MAKUNIKE WRITES TO AMERICAN AUTHORITIES
A Zimbabwean-born UK citizen and charity worker, Violet Makunike, has written to several United States law enforcement and financial oversight agencies requesting that they examine publicly reported financial dealings between controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and veteran musician Thomas Mapfumo.
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| Violet Makunike (Viomak) has written a letter to the US authorities to investigate Chivayo and Mapfumo for suspected money laundering. |
In a letter dated 14 July 2026, Makunike asked U.S. authorities to assess whether the reported payments totaling US$1.5 million comply with applicable American laws, particularly because Mapfumo is reportedly a permanent resident of the United States.
According to the letter, the reported arrangement involves US$500,000 for Mapfumo to perform at musician Jah Prayzah's wedding and a further US$1 million to perform at Chivayo's birthday celebrations.
Makunike argues that the transactions deserve scrutiny because Chivayo has attracted widespread public attention in Zimbabwe for his lavish displays of wealth, including gifting luxury vehicles, donating buses to churches, purchasing private aircraft and publicly distributing large sums of money. She notes that Zimbabweans have repeatedly questioned the source of his wealth, particularly in light of his involvement in government contracts and previous court appearances in fraud-related cases. The letter also acknowledges that allegations alone do not prove wrongdoing.
A key issue raised in the letter is Mapfumo's previously public position that he would not accept money from Chivayo because he believed the businessman’s funds were questionable. Makunike says the musician's apparent decision to now accept the reported payment has prompted renewed public concern and calls for greater transparency.
Addressing U.S. authorities, Makunike stresses that she is not asking them to presume any wrongdoing, but rather to determine whether the reported transactions warrant review under U.S. tax laws, anti-money laundering regulations and other applicable financial reporting requirements.
The letter requests that any investigation be conducted according to U.S. law and expresses appreciation for the United States' commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
Makunike addressed copies of her letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Neither Wicknell Chivayo nor Thomas Mapfumo has publicly responded to Makunike's letter at the time of writing. The allegations and concerns outlined in the letter remain requests for official review and do not constitute findings of wrongdoing by any authority.
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