Zambia Cancels Chivayo-Linked Company’s US$14 Million Election Tender

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cancelled a US$14 million tender awarded to Ren-Form CC, a South African company linked to controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo.

The tender, for the printing and delivery of ballot papers and other materials for the 2026 general elections, has been re-awarded to Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing of the United Arab Emirates. This decision follows Ren-Form CC’s failure to meet the tender requirements, forcing the ECZ to seek a more reliable supplier.

The move comes after significant pressure from South African-based Zimbabwean activists who wrote to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema urging him to intervene and prevent Ren-Form CC from participating in the Zambian elections.

The activists’ concerns stemmed from Ren-Form CC’s previous involvement in Zimbabwean elections. The company, along with Chivayo, was allegedly involved in corrupt practices related to a US$40 million tender awarded by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for the 2023 elections.

Allegations include invoice inflation of up to 235%. The activists warned that allowing Ren-Form CC to handle Zambian election materials could destabilise the region, citing the company’s alleged association with “extortionists and conmen” in other countries. Further raising concerns, Ren-Form CC had previously been awarded a tender to print ballot papers for Namibia’s November election, a decision that sparked outrage from Namibia’s opposition.

ECZ chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro announced the new contract with Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing on Monday, January 10, 2025. Kasaro stated that the ECZ reissued the tender for printing and delivery of electoral materials, including ballot papers, posters, blind voter templates, announcement forms, voter lists, and registers, on May 6, 2024.

“On May 6, 2024, ECZ reissued the tender for printing and delivering of electoral materials, such as ballot papers, posters, blind voter templates, announcement forms, voter lists and registers,” Kasaro said.

This decisive action by the ECZ has prompted calls for similar transparency and accountability within Zimbabwe’s electoral processes.

Zimbabwean electoral watchdogs and political analysts have praised the ECZ’s decision, urging ZEC to adopt similar practices to enhance public trust. Ignatius Sadziwa, executive director of the Zimbabwe Election and Advocacy Trust, stated, “Zambia’s Electoral Commission (ECZ) has set a commendable precedent by cancelling the contract awarded to Wicknell Chivayo’s Ren-Form CC company, demonstrating the importance of transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in electoral processes.

“Zec can draw valuable lessons from this development, particularly the need for rigorous vetting of contractors, embracing citizen participation and prioritising transparency to foster trust in the electoral system. By adopting these best practices, Zec can strengthen the integrity and credibility of its electoral processes, ultimately contributing to peaceful, free and fair elections that reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people.”

Political analyst Ruben Tendai Mbofana echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need for ZEC to improve its transparency in awarding tenders.

“It’s very commendable that the Zambia Electoral Commission finally cancelled the contract that they’d entered with this Ren-Form CC, which is a discredited, disgraced company associated with a convicted criminal and controversial businessman Chivayo,” Mbofana said.

“Zec should take a leaf from this, that if they want the elections in Zimbabwe and for them as an electoral commission to have credibility, for them to be trusted by the people of Zimbabwe and by extension, the results that come out of our electoral processes to be respected, they need to clean their hands. They need to stop associating with discredited, disgraced companies such as Ren-Form and also people like Chivayo.”

The Zambian ECZ’s decisive action serves as a powerful example of how robust procurement processes and a commitment to transparency can safeguard the integrity of elections. The cancellation of the Ren-Form CC tender, coupled with the subsequent awarding of the contract to a reputable international company, sends a clear message about the importance of accountability in electoral management.

The Zambian experience provides a valuable lesson for Zimbabwe and other nations striving to build trust and confidence in their electoral systems. The spotlight is now firmly on ZEC to demonstrate a similar commitment to transparency and accountability in its own tendering processes. The credibility of future Zimbabwean elections hinges on it.