Advocate Lewis Uriri Declines US$350,000 Gift Package from Wicknell Chivayo

Image: Zimbabwean entrepreneur and regional investor Sir Wicknell Chivayo paid a distinguished courtesy call on President William Ruto of Kenya.pool

Advocate Dr Lewis Uriri has declined a gift package worth approximately US$350,000 from businessman Wicknell Chivayo, turning down a new Range Rover Sport and cash offered to both himself and his wife over concerns that accepting the gifts could compromise, or create the appearance of compromising, his professional independence.
Chivayo had publicly announced that Uriri was to receive a brand-new 2026 Range Rover Sport Autobiography, valued at approximately US$250,000. He also offered the senior lawyer US$50,000 in cash for fuel, while promising a further US$50,000 to Uriri’s wife, who is also a senior lawyer.
The announcement came as part of a lengthy public tribute in which Chivayo described Uriri as a “lawyer par excellence”, crediting him with defending him fearlessly in several legal battles over the years. Chivayo presented the gifts as a gesture of appreciation for that service.
Uriri and his wife have since declined all three offers. In a carefully worded response, the advocate explained that the announcement had come without prior warning and that the circumstances, including the nature of his relationship with Chivayo, made accepting the gifts particularly sensitive.
The decision is significant because Uriri has represented Chivayo in legal matters, making the distinction between professional fees earned for legal services and substantial personal benefits offered outside the normal attorney-client relationship particularly important.
A Lawyer Who Has Challenged Powerful Institutions
Uriri’s professional record also includes cases in which he has challenged decisions by powerful institutions, including the executive branch of government.
He came to national prominence after representing President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the Constitutional Court challenge brought by Nelson Chamisa following Zimbabwe’s 2018 presidential election. Chamisa sought to overturn the election result, alleging that the poll had been affected by irregularities and that the declared outcome should not stand.
During the proceedings in August 2018, Uriri defended Mnangagwa’s victory. He argued that while the opposition petition contained serious allegations and political rhetoric, it did not provide the forensic evidence required to justify overturning the election result. The Constitutional Court ultimately dismissed the petition with costs, leaving Mnangagwa as president.
The case placed Uriri at the centre of one of the most closely watched constitutional proceedings in Zimbabwe’s recent political history.
His subsequent work, however, demonstrated that representing the president did not preclude him from challenging government actions when he considered them inconsistent with constitutional principles.
Uriri later represented Levi Nyagura, the suspended University of Zimbabwe vice-chancellor, in a corruption case. During those proceedings, he challenged the establishment of a special anti-corruption investigative unit operating under the Office of the President. Uriri argued that the unit had been created without parliamentary involvement and raised concerns about the independence of the National Prosecuting Authority.
These cases have contributed to Uriri’s professional reputation as an advocate willing to take on difficult matters while maintaining a strong emphasis on the independence of the legal profession.
He practises at Harare’s independent referral bar and serves as Head of Chambers at The Temple Bar. He is also the founding President of the Zimbabwe Inns of Court.
His practice encompasses commercial, corporate, investment and constitutional litigation, as well as tax advisory work undertaken on referral from attorneys and chartered accountants. He is listed as an arbitrator with the Commercial Arbitration Centre in Harare and is one of Zimbabwe’s four designated representatives to the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

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