The stench of corruption hangs heavy over Zimbabwe, as a major scandal involving the US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) tender continues to unravel, exposing a web of deceit and political patronage that stretches to the highest echelons of power.
At the heart of this controversy lies Wicknell Chivayo, a businessman with a history of questionable dealings and a close relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Chivayo, once a celebrated figure in Zimbabwean business circles, has become synonymous with the country’s rampant corruption, facing numerous allegations of fraud and embezzlement.
This latest scandal, however, reveals a disturbing new dimension – the blatant protection afforded to Chivayo by the political establishment. While his estranged business partners, Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, languish in jail facing charges related to the US$88 million Presidential Goats Scheme, Chivayo, despite his own alleged involvement in the ZEC tender, remains untouchable.
“The system has decided to protect Chivayo to shield top officials who are involved or implicated in the scandal,” a senior government official confided in The NewsHawks. “Arresting Chivayo may leave many top officials exposed and as collateral damage in the process. So ultimately it’s not about Chivayo per se, but his political handlers.”
This statement, echoing the sentiments of many within Zimbabwe, lays bare the reality of a system where power and influence trump justice and accountability. Chivayo, it seems, is a pawn in a larger game, his alleged crimes conveniently overlooked while his former business associates are sacrificed to protect the powerful individuals who stand behind him.
The ZEC tender, a lucrative contract for the supply of election materials, has become a breeding ground for corruption, with millions of public funds allegedly siphoned off through a complex web of kickbacks and bribes. The scandal implicates a number of high-profile individuals, including ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba, chief electoral officer Utloile Silaigwana, chief procurement officer Robson Changachirere, Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, Chivayo, Mpofu, Mike Chimombe, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Isaac Moyo, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya, lawyer Everson Chatambudza, Ren-Form international sales executive Angus Carlaw and the company chief executive Thomas Michel du Sart.
The alleged involvement of these individuals, many of whom hold positions of significant authority, raises serious concerns about the integrity of Zimbabwe’s electoral process and the potential for manipulation. The scandal also highlights the deep-rooted corruption that has plagued Zimbabwe for decades, undermining its economic development and eroding public trust in the government.
The case of Mpofu and Chimombe, currently incarcerated for their alleged role in the Presidential Goats Scheme, further underscores the selective application of justice in Zimbabwe. While they are held accountable for their alleged crimes, Chivayo, despite his alleged involvement in a far larger scandal, remains free to enjoy the fruits of his alleged corruption.
“This is the issue being used to cage them to save Chivayo and top officials,” the source revealed. “That is why other individuals like Joseph “Chief Jose” Mhaka involved in the goats scandal were not arrested, but only Mpofu and Chimombe.”
This blatant double standard, where some are held accountable while others are shielded, fuels public anger and resentment, further eroding the already fragile trust between the government and the people.
The Chivayo saga is not merely a case of individual corruption, but a symptom of a deeper malaise within Zimbabwe’s political system. It exposes the systemic flaws that allow powerful individuals to operate with impunity, while ordinary citizens bear the brunt of their misdeeds.
