Wicknell Chivayo’s contentious ascent from convicted fraudster to one of Zimbabwe’s most powerful tenderpreneurs starkly illustrates a lifestyle of entrenched corruption, cronyism, and impunity. Despite a barrage of scandals and serious allegations, Chivayo has repeatedly secured lucrative government contracts, delivering little to no results. This raises urgent concerns about his suspected political protection and systemic failures.

Chivayo’s origins are far from privileged. After dropping out of school at the age of 15, he began working as a wages clerk and soon turned to illegal foreign currency trading at Harare’s flea markets. In 2004, at the age of 21, he was convicted in South Africa for fraud exceeding ZAR 837,000, with some estimates suggesting up to R2 million. His prison sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison marked the start of his criminal endeavours.

Today, Chivayo is surrounded by ongoing controversy, with mounting calls for his arrest. His numerous outstanding cases and ostentatious lifestyle demand a thorough investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and other relevant authorities to ensure that justice is ultimately served.

Gwanda Solar Project (2015-2018)
Chivayo’s firm, Intratrek Zimbabwe, secured a substantial $200 million contract to construct a 100-megawatt solar plant in Gwanda. However, after receiving a $7 million advance, shockingly little progress was made. Although he was prosecuted and acquitted in 2019 due to delays, the Supreme Court reversed this decision in 2020, yet he continues to evade real accountability.

Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme (2021-2022)
Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu are not the only ones implicated in the misappropriation of $88 million earmarked for rural goat distribution—Chivayo’s involvement cannot be overlooked. While his partners faced arrest in 2024, Chivayo remains unharmed.

Additional power contracts In 2017, Chivayo secured additional power contracts valued at an astounding $684 million under the pretense of strengthening Zimbabwe’s power grid. Yet, like the Gwanda project, these initiatives have yielded nothing, exposing his modus operandi as a classic example of tenderpreneurship.

Extravagant Lifestyle Chivayo’s extravagant lifestyle is a glaring red flag that demands attention. His pattern of gifting luxury cars—like Rolls-Royces and Mercedes—to ZANU-PF allies and musicians, particularly following scandals such as the 2023 ZEC payout, is a blatant display of money laundering. Critics have rightly dubbed this behaviour “simulated philanthropy,” a thinly disguised tactic to mask his corrupt activities.

Economically, the potential losses—exceeding $800 million from these scandals—further exacerbate Zimbabwe’s already dire situation, leaving citizens to shoulder the consequences. Politically, it serves as a lightning rod for opposition criticism. Even within ZANU-PF, where he claims allegiance, murmurs of discontent are growing, with many viewing Chivayo as a serious liability to the Zimbabwean government’s vision for the country.

Chivayo’s extensive criminal record and history of scandals—fraud, failed projects, and the looting of millions—paint a damning portrait of his companies and various businesses. His attempts to bribe authorities and evade responsibility must be stopped immediately; justice must be served without delay.