WICKNELL CHIVAYO SINKING IN US$100 MILLION ZEC SCANDAL

Wicknell Chivayo, a businessman close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is in deep trouble. He is being investigated in a money laundering case linked to a huge US$100 million tender scandal involving the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The scandal, exposed last year, is now making big waves again. The story first broke through The NewsHawks and was followed by other media and activists who kept exposing the truth.

The deal was for election materials for Zimbabwe’s 2023 general elections. A South African company called Ren-Form CC was given the tender. They were paid R1.2 billion, which is about US$66 million. Out of that, Chivayo reportedly got R800 million — more than US$40 million. Now people are asking: how and why did he get this money? And what did he really do to earn it?

The South African Financial Intelligence Centre is now looking into the transactions. They suspect that the deal was dirty and used for money laundering. The way the money moved through many different companies and people made it look like an effort to hide something. It’s like a puzzle of shady business moves.

Chivayo has now spoken out. But instead of explaining things clearly, he gave a long and confusing statement. He said the scandal was “manufactured” and “without substance.” He claimed he did nothing wrong and said people were just jealous and did not understand “basic business.”

He wrote that getting millions from government contracts is normal. He said, “No money is just stolen like most idiots think.” He said he is a “hardworking businessman” and that all his deals are above board. He also attacked people who question him, saying they need to go to night school to understand business.

Chivayo says he never worked directly with ZEC. He says he was not part of any ZEC contract. But this is hard to believe, because the money came from the ZEC tender. Even if the contract was through other companies, the fact that he got paid such huge amounts makes it very suspicious.

In his statement, he said the reports against him are part of a political plot. He claims that people who hate ZANU PF and the president are the ones trying to bring him down. He called them “self-exiled fugitives” and said they were failures. He thinks the media stories and investigations are just “political vengeance.”

But the truth is, this is not about politics. It is about public money and corruption. It is about how a few people close to power keep getting rich while the rest of Zimbabwe suffers. Our hospitals have no medicine. Our schools are falling apart. Our roads are broken. And yet people like Chivayo live large from deals that smell of corruption.

Instead of facing the facts, he is hiding behind long Facebook rants and big words. He says he wants to be Zimbabwe’s youngest billionaire. But at what cost? How many children will go hungry while he posts pictures of new cars and designer suits?

Chivayo may try to run or talk his way out, but the truth is catching up with him. The people of Zimbabwe are tired. We want accountability. We want justice. We want an end to this looting by connected elites.

This scandal is not just about Chivayo. It shows how deep the rot is in our government. ZANU PF continues to protect criminals while punishing the innocent. But the day will come when the people rise and say enough is enough.