Controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo is once again at the centre of a growing political storm after allegations involving leaked images and videos reportedly triggered diplomatic and political discomfort for both Cyril Ramaphosa and Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The controversy escalated after claims emerged that Chivayo’s estranged wife, Sonja Madzikanda, was arrested following accusations that she leaked old photographs and video footage allegedly showing Chivayo together with Ramaphosa before the South African president’s recent visit to Zimbabwe.
The alleged material has reignited debate around statements issued two weeks ago by Ramaphosa’s office distancing the South African leader from Chivayo amid an ongoing financial investigation involving more than R1.1 billion linked to election-related transactions in Zimbabwe.
At the time, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa “had no prior knowledge” of Chivayo and was unfamiliar with him before attending a meeting hosted by Mnangagwa at his Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe.
However, the circulation of previously unseen images and alleged video footage appearing to show the two together before that meeting has intensified pressure on the South African presidency to clarify the nature and timeline of Ramaphosa’s interactions with the controversial businessman.
The matter has also drawn political reactions in South Africa, with opposition figures questioning Ramaphosa’s earlier remarks and raising broader concerns about alleged corruption networks operating across the region.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of opposition Build One South Africa, publicly questioned Ramaphosa over his links to Chivayo, whom he described as central to alleged corruption involving politically connected business figures in Zimbabwe.
He also questioned if Chivayo, through one of his brothers who is wanted in South Africa over a gold smuggling case, was not linked to the gold mafia syndicate that was exposed by the Al Jazeera Investigative Unit series in 2023.
He asked: “Mr President Cyril Ramaphosa do you know this criminal Wicknell Chivayo who seems to be central to massive corruption in Zimbabwe and whose brother is a gold smuggler?
“Are these not Mnangagwa’s gold mafia people?
“South Africans are suffering because of the corrupt Zimbabwean government and its crony capitalists who have looted everything and chased their people to South Africa.”
Maimane further stated that Mozambique and Zimbabwe’s ruling parties Frelimo and Zanu-PF respectively, were responsible for the immigration crisis allegedly causing unemployment in South Africa.
“Our immigration crisis is a result of the Zanu PF and Frelimo party. The corruption and violence in Zimbabwe and Mozambique have caused mass inflows into our nation which is already struggling with unemployment and poverty,” Maimane stated.
“Mr President, what are you doing with these people?”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean political activist Rutendo Matinyarare claimed the fallout surrounding the alleged leaked material had the potential to trigger wider political and diplomatic consequences if not contained.
The developments come against the backdrop of ongoing investigations by South African authorities into payments made by Zimbabwe’s Treasury to Johannesburg-based company Ren-Form CC, which supplied election materials for Zimbabwe’s 2023 harmonised elections.
Financial intelligence findings reportedly indicated that more than R1.1 billion flowed through Ren-Form accounts, with investigators alleging that over R800 million was subsequently transferred to accounts and entities linked to Chivayo and associated companies.
The businessman has previously denied any wrongdoing.
The issue has also placed Mnangagwa in an uncomfortable position, particularly as Chivayo is widely perceived to have close ties to influential figures within Zimbabwe’s political establishment.
Ramaphosa’s visit to Mnangagwa’s private farm in Kwekwe had already attracted criticism from opposition parties and governance activists in both countries, especially after conflicting descriptions emerged over whether the trip was official or private.
While Zimbabwean state media characterised the engagement as private, South African officials maintained it was an official working visit focused on bilateral and regional matters.
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