One of Zimbabwe’s prominent lawyers has turned down a KSh45 million gift package from flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo, citing professional ethics and personal integrity in a statement that has since gone viral.
Chivayo publicly announced the appreciation package online, praising Uriri’s legal brilliance and what he described as fearless representation over the years.
The offer included a brand-new 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography valued at approximately KSh32.25 million, a KSh6.45 million cash gift for fuel expenses, and a separate KSh6.45 million for Uriri’s wife, who is also a practising senior legal advocate.
Why did Lewis Uriri turn down Chivayo’s gift?
In a measured but firm Facebook post dated Monday, September 21, Uriri addressed Chivayo directly, acknowledging the kind words before declining every element of the offer.
He pointed out that the two had not been in contact since June 2024 and that no professional work had passed between them since that time.
According to Uriri, the legal work Chivayo referenced had already been fully compensated when it was carried out.
“Your announcement came as a complete surprise, without prior notice or discussion,” Uriri wrote, adding that the size of the gifts, combined with their stated connection to past legal services, made it necessary for him to approach the gesture with considerable caution.
Uriri grounded his refusal in Zimbabwe’s Legal Practitioners’ Code of Conduct, which he said requires lawyers to preserve their integrity, safeguard professional independence, and maintain public confidence in the legal profession.
He also referenced the International Bar Association’s principles and writings by the International Commission of Jurists, both of which stress that a lawyer’s judgement must remain free from conflicting personal interests.
“Please receive our decision in the respectful spirit in which it is conveyed. We appreciate the generosity expressed and your acknowledgment of my past work. Our decision is nevertheless firm: we will not accept the vehicle or either of the cash gifts,” he said.
“We wish you well and trust that you will understand and respect our position.”
See the post below:
Congratulations to Senior Counsel Dr. Lewis Uriri—a premier legal mind and a true advocate for justice. And sincere thanks to Sir Wicknell Chivhayo, a pillar whose depth and support remain vast like an enduring ocean (gungwa risingapwe).
— ED4TheNation (@ED4TheNation) September 21, 2026
Netizens weigh in
The response online was swift, with many Zimbabweans applauding the lawyer’s decision as a rare display of principle.
@BeansRobson:
“Everyone else:
‘Thank you Sir Wicknell 🙏🚗’ Adv. Uriri: ‘Please refer to the Legal Practitioners’ Code of Conduct.’ Integrity is still alive in Zimbabwe. Rare, but alive.”
@begottensun:
“All it takes is a few good men…”
@cals_tevera:
“Jah Prayzah should really start being generous.”
@TamirepiD:
“A good name is better than all the riches. Integrity is better than all the praises and affluence. Advocate, you have proved to be a man of integrity. One can’t just wake up without prior notice and claim to have gifted someone whom he wasn’t in contact with for more than a year”
@taffy_mush:
“Note the wisdom of publicly refusing the gift, though. We’ll see where it goes. I hope there won’t be serious retribution”
Chivayo, known for his high-profile lifestyle, generous public gestures, and close ties to President William Ruto, has previously attracted attention for offering lavish gifts to various public figures in Zimbabwe.
Uriri’s refusal sets a notably different tone, placing professional conduct squarely above personal gain.
