Harare – The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has sparked further outrage and suspicion by instructing journalists to cease questioning them about the contentious US$40 million elections tender awarded to businessman Wicknell Chivayo. This comes as prominent economist Henry Jaji warns of potential international sanctions and economic collapse due to the alleged money laundering associated with the deal.
The controversial tender, awarded to Chivayo’s Betterbrands Security (Pvt) Ltd in partnership with incarcerated businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, for the procurement of electoral material for the disputed August 2023 election, has been under intense scrutiny following leaked audios confirming Chivayo’s involvement.
During a press conference held yesterday ahead of today’s Glen View South constituency by-election, ZEC deputy chairperson Rodney Kiwa dismissed the issue, stating that it had nothing to do with the electoral management body.
“We won’t issue a press statement on the issue that has nothing to do with us,” Kiwa declared. “What would we say? We won’t get involved in issues that have nothing to do with us.”
He further added, “I won’t respond on the actual figures (of the funds involved in the elections). I actually beg you, iyo nyaya iyo ngatingosiyana nayo (let’s leave that issue because it has nothing to do with us). If you want to ask further on this issue, I won’t respond.”
Kiwa did state that the commission would run the Glen View South constituency and Rushinga Rural District ward 19 by-elections to be held today at a cost of ZiG25,5 million.
ZEC’s reluctance to address the Chivayo issue has only fuelled public anger and speculation, raising serious questions about the transparency and accountability of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, economist Henry Jaji has issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of the scandal, drawing attention to an investigative report by journalist Maynard Manyowa. Jaji, an expert in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), emphasized the urgency and criticality of the situation.
“As someone with experience in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), I understand how quickly a single scandal can undo years of reform,” Jaji stated. “Financial systems run on trust. And when that trust is broken, especially through state-linked transactions involving public funds, the entire system becomes fragile.”
Jaji highlighted reports that South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre is investigating a massive transaction involving Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Finance, which allegedly paid R1.1 billion to South Africa’s Ren-Form to supply election materials to ZEC. Disturbingly, over R800 million of that money was allegedly redirected into accounts linked to Wicknell Chivayo, via companies like Intratrek and Dolintel Trading.
Jaji argues that this isn’t just a case of corruption, but bears the hallmarks of transnational money laundering, making it a problem for everyone, not just ZEC.
He warned that these circumstances invite attention from international watchdogs like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which monitors global money laundering risks. Zimbabwe is already on their radar, and this scandal could fast-track a return to the FATF grey list. ESAAMLG, the regional AML body, and the Egmont Group, which links financial intelligence units globally, will almost certainly get involved.
Jaji explained the dire consequences of being greylisted, drawing on Zimbabwe’s past experience. “When Zimbabwe was last greylisted, we lost over 100 of them and; Remittances slowed or stopped. Businesses couldn’t pay foreign suppliers. NGOs struggled to operate. The flow of USD, critical to our economy, dried up.”
He emphasized that the loss of correspondent banking relationships would force Zimbabwe to rely solely on the Zim dollar, leading to hyperinflation, fuel queues, medication shortages, and shattered savings.
“Let’s be clear: it won’t be Wicknell or the officials who suffer,” Jaji stated. “It’ll be the mother waiting for a remittance from her child in the UK. The school that can’t get textbooks. The shop owner who can’t restock. The nurse who saved in USD only to find her money worth less every day.”
Jaji concluded with a powerful message: “This isn’t just about one man, one deal, or one department. This is about Zimbabwe’s future. Our financial credibility. Our access to global trade. Our ability to survive.”
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