Harare – New evidence has emerged implicating controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo in a massive corruption scandal involving Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections. An investigation by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), in collaboration with Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), has revealed that Chivayo received a staggering R800 million (just over US$40 million) from Renform CC, a South African printing company contracted to supply voting materials for the disputed polls.
The deal, signed in February 2023 ahead of the August elections, saw payments begin flowing in around March last year, triggering fierce disputes among those involved. While the main component of the shady money-spinning tender was US$40 million, the total value of the deal exceeded US$100 million.
The ZEC scandal represents one of the most significant corruption cases in Zimbabwe since 1980, characterized by the scale and intensity of looting and the staggering sums of money involved. The influx of illicit funds has seemingly driven Chivayo “bonkers,” as he embarks on an unprecedented spending spree, splurging on luxuries such as fancy cars, designer clothing, first-class travel, a private jet, real estate, new offices, and lavish donations, including vehicles for various individuals.
In one instance, a central server valued at R90,000 online was billed at R23 million. Non-flushing toilets were invoiced at R68,700 each—nearly seven times their retail cost. BVR kits, initially quoted at US$5,000, ballooned to US$16,000 by the time the invoice reached Zimbabwe’s treasury. For comparison, the United Nations Development Programme paid just US$3,600 per unit for similar kits during the 2021 Honduran elections.
The FIC noted that once the payments landed in Chivayo-controlled accounts, money was swiftly transferred to multiple third parties. These included a R156 million payment made directly by the Zimbabwean government to Edenbreeze, another Chivayo company, allegedly for “architectural and technical services.”
The FIC flagged Chivayo’s accounts for suspicious activities, citing the frequent movement of large, round-figure sums inconsistent with the account holder’s stated business profile. He reportedly splurged more than R36 million from a personal account on luxury car purchases and made significant payments to law firms, car dealerships, travel agents, and obscure South African companies.
Among the entities receiving major payouts from Chivayo’s companies were:
- Asibambeki Platinum Group: R351 million
- Kumba Group: R28.8 million
- Indo Logistics: R9.4 million
- Daytona (luxury car dealer): R5.4 million
- Flight Centre SA: R1.6 million
- NN Truck and Trailer: R5.6 million
- Strauss Scher Inc (law firm): R4 million
- Christian by Hadassah (Zim makeup brand): R1 million
Adding a layer of intrigue to the scandal, financial records indicate that approximately R1 million was transferred to Christian by Hadassah, a cosmetics business owned by Maxine Branson, wife of prominent prophet Edd Branson, between April 2023 and May 2024. This transaction occurred shortly after Chivayo received payments from Zimbabwe’s national treasury, raising questions about the money’s origin and purpose.
Prophet Branson backed his wife’s claims, referencing his spiritual foresight and suggesting that if he could prophesy on international issues, he could see what was happening in his marriage.
The Ren-Form contract would have remained shrouded in secrecy had it not been for a dramatic fallout between Chivayo and his business associates, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu. Audio clips and WhatsApp messages leaked to the media captured the trio squabbling over how to split “commission” payments from the Ren-Form deal. In the recordings, Chivayo brags about paying off senior government officials to secure the contract.
Although Chivayo has denied the voice recordings are his and apologized to Mnangagwa, former CIO director-general Isaac Moyo, cabinet secretary Martin Rushwaya, and ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba, the damage was already done. His apology, notably, did not include a denial that payments were made—only regret for giving the impression that state institutions were complicit.
Despite his criminal record, Chivayo has managed to reinvent himself as a politically connected tenderpreneur, frequently flaunting his close relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other senior Zanu PF officials. His growing influence within Zimbabwe’s power corridors has raised eyebrows, especially as his name continues to surface in multimillion-dollar contracts involving public funds. Chivayo has often been seen accompanying Mnangagwa on state functions and claims to enjoy the president’s full protection.
Although Chivayo denies any wrongdoing and insists the payments were legitimate business transactions, South African authorities appear unconvinced. The FIC’s findings have not only been handed over to SARS and SAPS but also shared with Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which is yet to take meaningful action.
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