Chivayo leverages proximity to power to make a fortune

Zimbabwean business tycoon and convict Wicknell Chivayo has a history of stealing from the cookie jar. He has been linked to the company Ren-Form, which has been awarded Namibia’s ballot-printing tender.

ZIMBABWEAN ex-convict-cum-businessman, Wicknell Chivayo splurged money on an imposing mansion and donated cars to selected individuals for weeks on end.

Chivayo is linked to a South African company, Ren-Form CC, which was handpicked to print ballot papers for the forthcoming national elections in Namibia

He is also making cash donations with questions abounding as to where the money is coming from.

The NewsHawks has decided to follow the money around Chivayo and see where it leads.

Chivayo is making money out of the state-owned power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Media reports say Chivayo has spent a fortune on luxury cars donated to high-profile individuals. In total, he has bought more than 50 cars, spending over US$5 million in donations.

In January, he gave 50 members of the church he attends Toyota Aqua vehicles worth US$400 000. Some of the cars he has bought include a Toyota Hilux, Toyota Hilux D4D, Toyota Fortuner, S500 Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes-Benz GLE400d and Mercedes-Benz GLE350d 4matic, among others, for prominent people.

For himself, Chivayo has a fleet of supercars. Last year, he showed off a fleet of six all-white imported luxury vehicles worth a staggering US$3.5 million parked at his mansion in Harare. Chivayo has built an mansion in the capital.

The Hollywood-style residential property in Gletwyn suburb, Chishawasha Hills, Harare – furnished by South Africa’s iconic interior design brand Norman Bakos Signature Collection – closely resembles former police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri’s estate in the same area. But the controversial tycoon says it is not the same villa.

Chivayo told The NewsHawks “No, it’s a completely different house. I built it from scratch.”

Chivayo, who is a convicted criminal and controversial businessman entangled in corrupt state tender projects, has of late been donating cars and money to individuals and organisations.

Zimbabweans are asking where his money comes from given his history of corrupt activities and proximity to Mnangagwa.

He says his own cars are white because he is an apostolic sect member.

In just one month, Chivayo bought four brand new Rolls-Royce vehicles from London. He then added a Mercedes-Benz Maybach and a Range Rover from South Africa.

The duty taxes for the vehicles alone were reportedly estimated at around US$1.5 million.

For months on end now, Chivayo has been on a car-donation spree.

Chivayo’s donations are not limited to cars only. Recently, he donated US$1 million to the Zion Christian Church to purportedly help fund its national projects, most of which have uplifted communities.

Chivayo made the donation during the church’s Easter Passover festival at Mbungo Estates in the Bikita district, Masvingo province, where Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa was the guest of honour. The donation was announced by the church’s leader, bishop Nehemiah Mutendi.

“There is this young businessman, Chivayo, who is doing great work. He donated some money to our church. It is a six-zero figure, US$1 million. We are quite happy as a church, and that is a show of love and kindness,” said Mutendi.

Chivayo has been accused of leveraging his close relationship with Mnangagwa to secure lucrative government contracts and make a fortune.

This has led to controversy and public outcry, with many questioning the transparency and fairness of these dealings.

Chivayo’s company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, has received significant government contracts, including a US$5.8 million solar power project and a US$173 million contract for the Gwanda Solar Project.

Although he was paid US$5.8 million, Chivayo did not deliver the Gwanda project and was reported for fraud. After a court battle, he was later acquitted.

Between 2016 and 2019, Intratrek executed pre-commencement works utilising funds paid by the state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) under contract and in the sum of US$5 811 224. ZPC is a subsidiary of the state-owned power utility Zesa. This amount constitutes less than 5% of the contract price of US$172 848 597.

Chivayo has won court cases to keep and implement his contracts. Critics says these contracts were awarded opaquely and due to Chivayo’s close ties with the president, rather than through a fair and competitive bidding process.

Allegations of cronyism and corruption have sparked concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the Zimbabwean government’s procurement processes.

Chivayo’s case is a classic example of what analysts call ‘crony capitalism’ or ‘political entrepreneurship’ where an individual leverages their proximity to power and political connections to accumulate wealth and secure business deals.

By capitalising on his relationship with the president, Chivayo has benefitted from:

*Lucrative government contracts;

*Gained access to state resources and privileged information – insider trading;

*Used political connections to influence policy decisions in favour of his business interests;

*Used his networks to intimidate competitors and secure market dominance;

*Used political muscle to sideline rivals or grab contracts.

This type of behaviour undermines fair competition, perpetuates corruption and erodes public trust in the government and business.

It also creates an uneven playing field, where those with political connections have an unfair advantage over others.

Chivayo’s case has sparked outrage and calls for greater transparency and accountability in government and business dealings.

Many Zimbabweans feel such dealings undermine the country’s economic performance, development and perpetuate corruption.

It is important for the government to ensure contracts are awarded openly, fairly and transparently, without undue influence or favouritism, to promote economic growth and public trust. – The NewsHawks