Chivayo says “I’m vindicated” after ZACC “clears” him of US$100m ZEC tender scandal

HARARE – Controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo has said that he feels “vindicated” after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) announced that it found no evidence linking him to alleged fraudulent dealings involving contracts worth over US$100 million for the supply of materials to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) ahead of the 2023 elections.

In a statement on Thursday, Chivayo said the latest clarification by ZACC Chairperson Michael Reza had brought an end to what he described as two years of damaging allegations that had negatively affected his personal reputation and business interests.

Chivayo said the public confirmation that he was not involved in any ZEC procurement, had no contract with the commission, and had never conducted any business with businessmen Mike Chimombe or Moses Mpofu, was long-awaited vindication.

“I am vindicated from any wrongdoing at long last,” he said.

“ZACC has confirmed beyond any doubt that I was never involved in any procurement of election materials for ZEC. I have never had any contractual or business relationship with ZEC, nor have I ever worked with or partnered with Chimombe or Mpofu in any business whatsoever.”

He said the allegations, which surfaced after the two businessmen accused him of benefiting from a South African contract linked to Ren-Form CC following the 2023 Harmonised Elections, had caused “immense prejudice” to his family and companies.

ZACC Chairperson Michael Reza, speaking a day earlier at the conclusion of a three-day workshop on curbing illicit financial flows, confirmed that investigators had found no documentary evidence linking Chivayo to the alleged scheme.

“We went to ZEC and asked them to give us the contracts. The answer they gave to our investigators was that they did not know these people. They had not done any business with them,” Reza said, adding that ZEC even issued a public statement reinforcing this position.

Reza said investigators also requested documentation from Chimombe and Mpofu to substantiate their claims, but “none was supplied”.

“A contract is the document that links two people to a business transaction. But there is no such document,” he said.

“ZEC said they have no business with them, Chivayo said there is no business with them, and we have nothing to go by.”

Although disclosures in South Africa showed that Ren-Form CC, the company allegedly contracted by ZEC, received over R1.1 billion from Treasury, with more than R800 million reportedly flowing into accounts connected to Zimbabwean intermediaries, Reza said that no evidence of criminal conduct had emerged from the local inquiry.

Chivayo said he appreciates what he described as ZACC’s “diligent and evidence-based approach”, adding that he hoped the matter had now been put to rest.

“They were not swayed by social-media speculation,” he said.

“It is my hope that this brings closure to a matter that has caused immense prejudice to me, my family and my business interests.”

Former Mt Pleasant MP Fadzayi Mahere has, however, argued that ZACC’s decision to clear Chivayo was flawed because the investigation focused too narrowly on the absence of a direct contract between him and ZEC, while ignoring critical financial leads from South Africa.

She questioned why ZACC did not pursue alleged “suspicious transactions” flagged by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre or investigate why RenForm CC, the official contractor, reportedly paid millions into Chivayo’s accounts.

Mahere said a proper probe should have included bank-statement analysis to rule out money laundering, inflated tender pricing, or illicit consultancy fees.

She also accused ZACC of showing bias by failing to thoroughly engage key accusers, Mpofu and Chimombe, and questioned how the commission concluded Chivayo was truthful without referring the matter to the courts.

“As the body mandated to fight corruption under the Constitution, we expect far more rigorous investigations than this superficial conclusion it appears you have drawn here,” Mahere stated.

According to a report by the NewsHawks Chivayo got a US$100 million contract to supply biometric voter registration kits and other electoral materials during the August 2023 elections.

In 2015, Chivayo’s Intratrek got a US$172 million tender for the Gwanda Solar Project. Ten years later, nothing has been done on the site despite Chivayo getting a US$5 million advance payment.

Chimombe and Mpofu were arrested after they leaked an audio of Chivayo bragging about how he captured President Mnangagwa and the system.

In the audio, Chivayo gloats that he has a tight grip on the system and is now its blue-eyed boy, getting all important contracts. He revealed that the President now considers him a son.

Chivayo said when the President went to the Italy-Africa Summit, he held his hand and gave him orders on what to do in his absence.

Even though public procurements must go through a competitive tender process, Chivayo disclosed that he will likely get a Zimbabwe Republic Police and an immigration tender.

He then told Moses Mpofu of Better Brands Security and Mike Chimombe that he could pay them US$100,000 to get by, but they should not make noise.