CHIVAYO’S VICE GRIP ON POWER EXPOSES ZANU PF’S CORRUPTION CURTAIN

In a shocking revelation that has sent tremors through Zimbabwe’s political corridors, flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo has been caught on a leaked audio claiming he holds significant sway over President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The recording, which surfaced recently, lays bare the deeply embedded corruption and political manipulation that has come to define the ruling ZANU PF government.

In the audio, Chivayo boasts about his “vice-like grip” on the President, portraying himself not just as a well-connected entrepreneur but as a shadow power broker capable of pulling strings at the highest levels of government. Known widely as a ‘tenderpreneur’ for his string of questionable government contracts, Chivayo openly describes how he has secured Mnangagwa’s favour to a degree that compromises the very integrity of national leadership.

This disturbing claim is rooted in Chivayo’s past, particularly the failed US$173 million Gwanda solar project. Despite receiving a US$5.8 million advance from the government, his company, Intratrek, delivered nothing of substance. Yet instead of being held accountable, Chivayo only grew more powerful, navigating the corridors of power with impunity.

One of the most damning parts of the leaked audio is Chivayo’s account of being personally escorted by President Mnangagwa on a red carpet to board a flight for an international summit. Such VIP treatment, far from standard protocol, illustrates a dangerous blurring of the line between public office and private interest. This is not mere friendship — it is complicity.

Even more troubling is Chivayo’s regional maneuvering. He speaks of travelling across Africa, not to attract investment or partnerships, but to chase tenders in countries like Uganda and Tanzania. It reveals a business model built not on innovation or service delivery, but on exploiting political networks and looting public funds.

Chivayo’s influence doesn’t end with Mnangagwa. He claims ties to both Vice-Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi. He boasts of bestowing financial gifts and personal favours to them, deeply embedding himself within Zimbabwe’s political elite. If his words are to be believed, he is not just a businessman — he is a kingmaker, greasing the palms of power to entrench his position.

The scandal deepens with Chivayo’s admission that funds from another murky deal — a US$40 million tender with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission — were used to buy luxury cars and spread money within ZANU PF. This is more than corruption; it’s vote-rigging and political capture funded by taxpayers.

While some have rushed to label the audio as a deepfake, The NewsHawks, a respected investigative outlet, has verified both the recording and documents linked to the ZEC tender. This validation confirms that what we are witnessing is not fiction or political theatre — it is the anatomy of state capture.

At a time when Zimbabwe’s economy is struggling, when hospitals lack medicine and students go hungry, revelations like these are not just frustrating — they are enraging. They show a regime more focused on enriching its inner circle than serving its people.

Wicknell Chivayo’s admissions must not be ignored. They are symptomatic of a broader rot that is choking Zimbabwe’s progress and poisoning its democracy. The President, his deputies, and every ZANU PF official implicated by association must be held accountable. Zimbabweans deserve transparency, not theatrical displays of power and wealth.

The future of this country cannot be mortgaged to men who treat national institutions like personal ATMs. The time for silence is over. The people must demand justice, and the international community must take note. As long as figures like Chivayo boast of their grip on power, Zimbabwe’s dream of real freedom and prosperity will remain just that — a dream.