Controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has announced that he has been granted citizenship of Eswatini and issued with a diplomatic passport following a meeting with King Mswati III at the Royal Palace.
In a lengthy statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, Chivayo shared photographs showing him holding what he said was an Eswatini diplomatic passport.
According to Chivayo, the development followed what he described as a personal audience with the monarch, during which King Mswati III instructed his administration to grant him citizenship.
“The king accepted me as his young, fellow African son,” Chivayo wrote.
He added that he had also been presented with a diplomatic passport to facilitate travel and business activities within Eswatini.
“Coupled to this, I was further presented with a diplomatic passport, meant to facilitate ease of travel and doing business in Eswatini, in the various pursuits in infrastructure development,” he said.
Chivayo claimed that King Mswati III expressed appreciation for his philanthropic activities in Zimbabwe and elsewhere on the continent, as well as his support for liberation movements and political parties in Southern Africa.
He said the king specifically commended his backing of Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to Chivayo, discussions also focused on potential investment opportunities in Eswatini’s energy and infrastructure sectors.
The businessman said his companies and strategic partners were prepared to mobilise capital and arrange financing for viable development projects in the kingdom.
Drawing a comparison with Zimbabwe, Chivayo described Eswatini as an attractive destination for investment due to what he characterised as a more favourable economic environment and stronger access to international development financing.
Through companies including Intratrek Zimbabwe and IMC Communications, Chivayo has secured government contracts in Zimbabwe valued at close to US$1 billion, largely within the energy sector.
The businessman has long been regarded as a close ally and financier of the ruling Zanu PF party. Critics have alleged that his access to lucrative government contracts stems from political connections rather than competitive processes, allegations he has consistently denied.
If confirmed, the move would add King Mswati III to a growing list of African leaders who have publicly engaged with Chivayo in recent years.
The businessman has previously shared photographs and details of meetings with several heads of state across the continent, including William Ruto, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Peter Mutharika, Daniel Chapo, Bola Tinubu and Hakainde Hichilema.
Neither the Eswatini government nor the Royal Palace had publicly commented on Chivayo’s claims at the time of publication.
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