Business mogul Wicknell Chivayo has denied accusations of corruption and money laundering following the leak of financial intelligence documents purportedly from Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The reports allege that Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Finance paid substantial sums to South African-based printing company Ren-Form CC for election-related materials, with a significant portion of those funds allegedly transferred to companies linked to Chivayo.
In a statement posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Chivayo dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
“As I’ve said before without hesitation, neither I nor my companies have committed any crime. All transactions were part of legal, commercially binding agreements,” he said.
He went on to criticize what he called “a deliberate distortion of facts to manufacture scandal,” accusing unnamed actors of using misinformation to push a political narrative.
Chivayo insisted that no public funds were missing and that no complainant had come forward. He described the leaked documents as an effort to stir public distrust without evidence of actual wrongdoing.
“There is no missing money, no criminal case, and no victim — only an attempt to create controversy where none exists.”
He also addressed public criticism regarding lucrative government contracts, arguing that payments for completed work through public procurement are standard business practice.
The businessman suggested the real aim of the reports is to attack Zimbabwe’s ruling government and discredit state institutions.
He accused exiled critics and opposition figures — whom he labeled as “fugitives from justice” — of using the issue to undermine the country’s leadership.
Chivayo also distanced himself from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), saying he has never had any contracts or dealings with the electoral body.
“To claim I benefitted from inflated ZEC payments when I was not a party to any such contracts is not only false, but absurd.”
Chivayo concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to the ruling ZANU PF party and his public support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“No amount of threats or fake scandals will stop me from backing the President or pursuing my dream of becoming Zimbabwe’s youngest billionaire,” he said.