Harare: A flashy tycoon in Zimbabwe has a nation entranced - some beguiled, others alarmed - by his habit of giving away cars along with wads of cash to those he deems patriotic - even presenting them to those he has never met.

According to BBC, Mercedes-Benzes, Toyota SUVs, Range Rovers are Wicknell Chivayo's vehicles of choice for the recipients, who range from music stars, down-at-heel gospel singers, footballers, church leaders, and those loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party. The controversial 44-year-old is himself partial to a white Rolls Royce and has a fleet of personalized luxury cars, some of which he has also started giving away as he acquires newer models.

Chivayo's "public gifting" has become almost frenzied, with social media Zanu-PF accounts lavishing him with praise and commending his philanthropy. In private, Sir Wicknell, as he is popularly known, has also dished out houses and study scholarships to followers of his apostolic church, the Zion Christian Church, known for their white garments and outdoor worship.

The businessman has come to symbolize Zimbabwe's growing "flex culture," a trend of showcasing wealth both in-person and online. His social media accounts are replete with images of extravagant shopping sprees, luxurious holidays, and his proximity to political power, having posted photos with African leaders from Zimbabwe's late President Robert Mugabe to Kenya's William Ruto.

Chivayo's rise to wealth is not without controversy. His company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, and a Chinese firm won a tender in 2013 to build a $172.8 million solar power plant, which later became embroiled in fraud allegations. Although he was acquitted of these criminal charges, questions about his business practices persist.

Despite avoiding media interactions, Chivayo has previously described his ventures on a radio show, mentioning his involvement in government tenders with foreign partners in renewable energy, engineering procurement, construction, and power projects. His company, IMC Communications, was also licensed as a partner for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service provider last year.

Chivayo's financial dealings have also drawn scrutiny from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which launched an inquiry after allegations surfaced of his involvement in facilitating a tender to supply election materials. Despite the controversy, no charges have been filed against him, and Chivayo continues to deny any wrongdoing.

While some view Chivayo as a product of Zimbabwe's indigenization policy, which aims to create a new class of black businessmen, others suspect his wealth stems from corruption and questionable relationships with those in power. As a result, his close ties with political figures continue to fuel debate and speculation about his true intentions and the source of his wealth.