The air in Zimbabwe is thick with the stench of corruption, a pervasive issue that continues to gnaw at the fabric of our society. The latest case to ignite public outrage is the ongoing saga of Wicknell Chivayo, a controversial businessman who has become synonymous with impunity and the perceived failure of our institutions to hold the powerful accountable.
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the main opposition party, has accused the government of turning a blind eye to Chivayo’s alleged misdeeds, highlighting the case as a prime example of the lethargy that plagues our anti-corruption efforts. The CCC’s spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi, minced no words in his condemnation, stating, “The government of Zimbabwe has been the chief perpetrator of corruption, rent seeking and plunder of State resources, awarding lucrative contracts to themselves, their kith and kin and their cronies and proxies.”
The focus on Chivayo is not without merit. He has been embroiled in a series of high-profile scandals, most notably the botched Gwanda solar project, where he was awarded a US$172 million contract that ultimately failed to deliver on its promises. Despite mounting evidence of alleged corruption and mismanagement, Chivayo has remained unfazed, even boasting about his untouchability, New Zimbabwe has reported.
“Several high-profile corruption cases have been reported and exposed but no arrests have been made,” Mkwananzi pointed out, adding, “Mr. Wicknell Chivayo who has been named in several high-profile scandals remains not only scot-free but boastful that nothing will happen to him.”
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has taken some steps to investigate Chivayo, summoning him and his business partners, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, for questioning in June this year. The summons followed the leak of audio recordings allegedly attributed to Chivayo, which raised concerns about money laundering and abuse of office. However, the investigation has been slow, and only Chimombe and Mpofu have appeared before ZACC, subsequently being denied bail and remanded in custody. Chivayo himself has yet to face the music.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), meanwhile, has shown little appetite to engage with the case, further fueling accusations of a lack of political will to tackle corruption at the highest levels. The perception of a double standard, where powerful individuals are shielded from accountability while ordinary citizens bear the brunt of the law, has become a festering wound in our society.
The CCC’s criticism extends beyond Chivayo, highlighting the broader issue of political patronage and the weaponization of national resources for partisan gain. Mkwananzi accused the government of distributing food aid in a highly politicized manner, favouring its own party members and denying assistance to those perceived to be opposition supporters.
“The partisan distribution of national resources extends to food distribution which has been highly politicized and weaponized against those perceived to hold opposition views,” he stated, citing the case of the late Mboneni Ncube, whose family has allegedly been denied food aid despite his brutal murder by suspected Zanu PF activists at an opposition campaign rally in Kwekwe.
The CCC’s allegations paint a bleak picture of a system where corruption thrives, where the powerful are above the law, and where basic necessities like food are used as political tools. The lack of accountability and the perceived lethargy of our institutions have eroded public trust and fuelled a sense of despair.
