KEY POINTS
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Parliament petitioned to investigate Chivayo’s $100 million ZEC tender scandal.
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SAFIC flagged suspicious financial activity tied to alleged money laundering.
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Lawmakers urged to act on the Chivayo $100 million ZEC tender scandal.
Emmanuel Nkosilathi Moyo, a citizen of Kwekwe, petitioned Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to look into allegations of money laundering and corruption.
Petition demands investigation into Chivayo $100 million ZEC tender scandal
Moyo requested that MPs look into the dubious financial practices involving public funds of Wicknell Chivayo, a businessman and acknowledged ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Moyo stated in the appeal that Parliament must consider a 2023 Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tender for US$100 million in order to fulfill its constitutional obligation.
According to reports, Chivayo served as a middleman in contentious financial transactions as part of the contract, which was given to the South African business Ren-Form CC.
Red flags were raised when South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre reported that Chivayo earned roughly US$44 million of the US$66 million contract total.
According to the center’s study, there has been unexplained money movement via major South African banks, which may be connected to criminal financial operations and money laundering.
Moyo based his plea for formal oversight on the legal basis of Zimbabwe’s Constitution (Sections 119, 298 and 299) and parliamentary norms.
He called for an investigation into many accounts that were purportedly under Chivayo’s control and utilized for dubious transactions that benefited businesses connected to him.
According to Bulwayo news, Chivayo quickly moved money for luxury purchases and foreign travel through accounts at FNB, Absa, and Standard Bank.
The investigation described how the contract revenues from ZEC were used to finance the acquisition of luxury cars, electronics, real estate, and designer clothing.
Leaked documents and audio recordings purport to demonstrate how Chivayo disbursed bribes to get the procurement approved and avoid regulatory investigation.
The records list the President’s Office, high-ranking officials, the head of ZEC, and President Mnangagwa’s daughter as receivers of bribes.
Parliament faces pressure to act on Chivayo $100 million ZEC tender scandal
Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, Chivayo’s imprisoned ex-partners, are also accused of taking part in the tender controversy with the backing of high-ranking officials.
Chivayo, ZEC, and Ren-Form have denied any wrongdoing and rejected claims of financial impropriety and collaboration in the face of public criticism.
In order to ensure that taxpayer funds were not misappropriated or diverted for private gain, Moyo maintained that Parliament needed to track down each payment.
“This is an issue of national significance,” Moyo declared. “Answers and accountability are necessary before institutions’ credibility is further damaged.”
As the controversy draws attention to Zimbabwe’s growing corruption and elite impunity, the petition puts further pressure on lawmakers and law enforcement.
