A newly leaked audio recording has reignited outrage over a massive corruption scandal involving a shady one hundred million dollar tender awarded under the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. The explosive audio reveals a bitter exchange between controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his former associate Mike Chimombe, exposing deep cracks in a fraudulent alliance that reaped millions through political manipulation.
The tender, signed in February 2023 just months before Zimbabwe’s August general elections, was allegedly for services from South African printing firm Ren-Form. But what began as an electoral logistics contract soon morphed into a cash-siphoning operation. The largest tranche was a jaw-dropping forty million dollars, with the total deal surpassing the hundred million dollar mark. Chivayo, Chimombe, and a third associate, Moses Mpofu, positioned themselves as intermediaries in the deal. Once payments started flowing in March, the trio’s unity collapsed into accusations of deceit, betrayal, and theft.
The leaked audio captures the raw hostility between Chivayo and Chimombe as each man accuses the other of double-crossing and fraud. It paints a vivid picture of the greed and lawlessness fueling Zimbabwe’s politically connected elite. The scandal goes beyond personal squabbles. It underscores the rot within the state itself. Chivayo’s notorious closeness to President Emmerson Mnangagwa has raised questions about how deep the protection runs for those involved in this criminal network. Despite the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission launching an investigation, no one has been held accountable.
Chimombe and Mpofu are already in jail, facing charges related to yet another suspicious deal — the eighty-eight million dollar Presidential Goats Scheme. These back-to-back scandals suggest a culture of theft and abuse deeply entrenched within Zimbabwe’s ruling circles. It is not merely about one corrupt deal. It is about a system that rewards loyalty to power over service to the nation.
Adding to the storm, another audio had previously surfaced in which Chivayo boasts of his tight grip on Zimbabwe’s leadership. In the recording, he claims influence over President Mnangagwa and drops names of key figures allegedly involved in these dark dealings. These include Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba, CIO boss Isaac Moyo, and gold dealer Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya. Such revelations point to a tightly woven web of political, intelligence, and business actors operating above the law.
This scandal is not just about missing millions. It is about the hijacking of Zimbabwe’s democratic processes. When electoral bodies become playgrounds for the corrupt, the entire foundation of democracy is shaken. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission says it is investigating, but its credibility is on the line. Zimbabweans have seen too many commissions formed and too few results delivered.
The NewsHawks, the investigative outlet that first broke this story, has promised more revelations. Their reporting could be the thread that unravels one of the most far-reaching corruption exposés in the country’s recent history. But that will only matter if the people demand action and refuse to be silenced.
Zimbabwe is at a crossroads. The integrity of its electoral systems is under threat. The credibility of its anti-corruption institutions is collapsing. And the patience of its people is running out. As more evidence surfaces, the regime’s carefully managed image of order and control is crumbling under the weight of its own lies. Zimbabweans must not look away. International observers must not be fooled. What is unfolding is not just a scandal. It is a national betrayal.
About The Author
