Wicknell Chivayo: Zimbabwean businessman's controversial wealth and political ties across Africa
Wicknell Chivayo, a Zimbabwean businessman, has amassed an estimated fortune exceeding $100 million, primarily through government contracts. A notable example is a $173 million solar project in Gwanda, awarded in 2015, which remains unbuilt nearly a decade later. Chivayo, who holds Eswatini citizenship and a diplomatic passport, has cultivated relationships with numerous African heads of state, including Kenya's President William Ruto, whom he has met multiple times. His career includes a 2004 fraud conviction and ongoing investigations into his wealth by Zimbabwe's anti-corruption commission. In 2023, his company was linked to a scandal involving the supply of election materials for Zimbabwe's general elections, with allegations of inflated prices and a $100 million transaction through a South African firm, Ren-Form, which South African authorities are investigating. Despite these controversies, Chivayo is also known for significant philanthropic gestures, such as donating to a football club and providing flood relief. His supporters view him as a philanthropist, while critics see him as a symbol of crony capitalism built on political connections and unfulfilled promises.
