Dubious elections bribe scandal has rocked Zimbabwe and South Africa, following revelations that over R800 million from a R1.1 billion payment for election materials found its way into the accounts of controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
The bombshell findings, unearthed by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), expose a tangled web of corruption, political influence, and questionable payments surrounding Zimbabwe’s August 2023 general elections.
FIC Traces Dubious Elections Bribe Trail from Treasury to Chivayo
The FIC report, covering bank activity between April 5, 2023, and May 16, 2024, details how Ren-Form CC, a Johannesburg-based commercial printing company, was awarded a no-tender contract by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The company received a staggering R1.1 billion from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Finance and transferred more than R800 million to companies owned by Chivayo, including Intratrek Holdings and Dolintel Trading Enterprise.
The FIC submitted its findings to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit, the South African Revenue Service, and the South African Police Service, urging immediate investigations.
Chivayo, Chimombe, and Mpofu Fallout Exposes Dubious Elections Bribe
The scheme might have remained in the shadows if not for a bitter dispute among Chivayo and his business associates, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, over how to divide their “commission.” Leaked audio recordings and WhatsApp messages hinted at bribes paid to high-ranking Zimbabwean officials using funds skimmed from the inflated election contract.
Though Chivayo denied the recordings were his voice, he apologized to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and senior officials such as former spy chief Isaac Moyo, cabinet secretary Martin Rushwaya, and ZEC chair Justice Priscilla Chigumba for implying institutional corruption.
Ballot Papers and Toilets Grossly Overpriced in Dubious Elections Bribe Scheme
The report indicates that Ren-Form inflated prices across the board. For instance, a central server valued at R90,000 online was invoiced to ZEC for R23 million. Similarly, 2,000 non-flushing toilets were billed at R68,700 each — over six times their market value of R10,000.
Biometric voter registration (BVR) kits were initially quoted at US$5,000 each, only to be later invoiced at nearly US$16,000 per unit. For comparison, the UNDP bought similar kits for just US$3,600 for Honduras’ 2021 election.
Direct Payments to Chivayo Firms Raise More Dubious Election Bribe Alarms
Beyond Ren-Form’s transfers, Zimbabwe’s finance ministry paid R156 million directly to Edenbreeze, another Chivayo-linked company, under the guise of architectural and engineering services.
According to the FIC, these funds were rapidly moved to various entities — a red flag indicating laundering or fraudulent disbursement. The report describes the transactions as “not in line with the profiling information of the account holder.”
Luxury Spending and Unusual Transfers Raise Red Flags
Once funds reached Chivayo’s companies, significant amounts were funneled into personal and other business accounts. Over R36 million was spent from one personal account — largely on car purchases.
Large sums were disbursed to entities such as:
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Asibambeki Platinum Group – R351 million
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Kumba Group – R28.8 million
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Indo Logistics – R9.4 million
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Daytona car dealership – R5.4 million
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NN Truck and Trailer – R5.6 million
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Flight Centre South Africa – R1.6 million
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Christian by Hadassah (make-up brand) – R1 million
Law firm Strauss Scher Inc. received R4 million, raising further questions.
Zimbabwe’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Falter Despite Dubious Elections Bribe Scandal
Following the scandal’s exposure, Chimombe and Mpofu were arrested on separate corruption charges and denied bail. However, investigations into the election contract itself by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission appear to have stalled.
Critics say the lack of progress is unsurprising, given Chivayo’s close ties to President Mnangagwa and other senior figures.
Ren-Form Under Scrutiny Over Role in Dubious Elections Bribe
Ren-Form’s denial of wrongdoing is now under serious doubt. While the company has insisted its contracts were above board, the fact that it only retained around R300 million of the R1.1 billion — with the rest flowing to politically connected individuals — points to deliberate price inflation to generate massive commissions.
The FIC report underscores that Ren-Form’s bank accounts were flagged for “rapid movement of funds to various parties,” including “luxury purchases” and “round amount transactions.”
