Zimbabwe High Court: Wicknell Chivayo's US$100M Election Deal Probed

• President Emmerson Mnangagwa bestowed a blessing upon Wicknell Chivayo at the Gwanzura Shrine.
• Chivayo has a history of financial misconduct, including convictions for high-value fraud and involvement in several high-profile cases.
• Leaked audio recordings and financial intelligence disclosures have linked him to an inflated US$100 million election supply arrangement.
• Chivayo enjoys unhindered access to the presidency and has secured lucrative state-backed exclusivity deals.

The President's words, 'Tinokutenda, Muchinda Sir Wicknell Chivhayo. Ugoramba uchipiwawo kuti ungoramba uchipa,' effectively legitimized Chivayo's unexplained wealth and perpetuated the notion that his actions are above scrutiny.

At a recent gathering at the Gwanzura Shrine, President Emmerson Mnangagwa bestowed a blessing upon Wicknell Chivayo, a controversial tenderpreneur with a history of financial misconduct. The President's words, 'Tinokutenda, Muchinda Sir Wicknell Chivhayo. Ugoramba uchipiwawo kuti ungoramba uchipa,' effectively legitimized Chivayo's unexplained wealth and perpetuated the notion that his actions are above scrutiny. However, this blessing has sparked widespread concern among Zimbabweans, who see it as a clear indication of state-backed exclusivity deals and the weaponization of unverified wealth. The President's actions have created an environment where public accountability is compromised, and the rule of law is undermined.

Wicknell Chivayo's history of financial misconduct stretches back to 2004, when he was convicted of high-value fraud involving illegal currency conversion. He served a three-year sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison and has since been involved in several high-profile cases, including the Gwanda Solar Power Project, where his firm Intratrek Zimbabwe received over US$5 million in state advances despite failing to deliver any meaningful solar infrastructure. More recently, leaked audio recordings and financial intelligence disclosures have linked him to an inflated US$100 million election supply arrangement for the 2023 general elections. The transaction was flagged by South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), revealing that over R800 million was transferred into business bank accounts controlled by Chivayo after the Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance paid Ren-Form over R1 billion.

Despite his controversial track record, Wicknell Chivayo enjoys unhindered access to the presidency and accompanies official state delegations. He has secured lucrative state-backed exclusivity deals, including IMC Communications' agency arrangement with Starlink. This raises concerns about state capture in Zimbabwe, where individuals like Chivayo are able to manipulate public perception and silence critique through their unverified wealth. The President's blessing has legitimized this behavior, creating an environment where the rule of law is compromised and public accountability is undermined.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the potential implications of state-backed exclusivity deals and the weaponization of unverified wealth in Zimbabwe, which may indicate a need for enhanced due diligence and risk assessment in business dealings with individuals like Wicknell Chivayo.

Source: Original reporting via Tendai Ruben Mbofana