Zambia Cancels $14M Election Contract with Sir Wicknell Chivayo Linked Firm, Awards to UAE Company

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has annulled a US$14 million contract previously awarded to Ren-Form CC, a South African company linked to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, for printing and delivering ballot papers and other materials for the 2026 general elections.

The contract has now been awarded to Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.

The cancellation followed Ren-Form CC’s failure to meet the requirements specified in the tender documents, prompting the ECZ to secure an alternative supplier.

This decision comes amid concerns raised by Zimbabwean activists based in South Africa, who had written to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema urging him to intervene and block Ren-Form CC from supplying materials for Zambia’s elections.

Ren-Form CC, together with Chivayo, allegedly acquired a US$40 million contract from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to supply materials for the 2023 elections, with reports of invoice inflation reaching up to 235%. Activists expressed concerns that allowing the company to supply election materials could destabilize the region, given its history of working with what they described as “extortionists and conmen” in other countries.

The company’s involvement in electoral processes has been controversial elsewhere, including its role in printing ballot papers for Namibia’s November election, which faced significant opposition backlash.

According to the Zambian Monitor, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro announced on January 10, 2025, that the contract with Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing had been finalized. Kasaro noted that the tender for printing and delivering electoral materials was reissued on May 6, 2024, covering items such as ballot papers, posters, voter templates, announcement forms, and voter registers.

Local electoral watchdogs praised the ECZ for prioritizing transparency and accountability, urging the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to adopt similar measures. Ignatius Sadziwa, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Election and Advocacy Trust, described the move as a positive example for enhancing public trust in electoral systems.

“Zambia’s ECZ has set an admirable standard by canceling the contract with Ren-Form CC, highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement in electoral management,” Sadziwa remarked. He encouraged ZEC to embrace rigorous vetting of contractors and prioritize transparency to strengthen the credibility of Zimbabwe’s electoral processes.

Political analyst Ruben Tendai Mbofana also commended the ECZ’s decision, calling it a necessary step to safeguard the integrity of elections. “ZEC should take inspiration from this development,” Mbofana said. “For Zimbabwe to have credible and respected elections, the commission must distance itself from disreputable companies like Ren-Form CC and controversial figures such as Chivayo.”