A shocking new audio recording has exposed the full scale of the corruption that continues to poison Zimbabwe’s democracy. In the leaked tape, businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his former partner Mike Chimombe argue bitterly over a US$100 million tender awarded by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)—and the fallout from their greed has sent shockwaves across the nation.
What started as a contract for South African printing firm Ren-Form ahead of Zimbabwe’s 2023 general elections quickly turned into a looting frenzy by politically connected elites. Chivayo, Chimombe, and Moses Mpofu inserted themselves as middlemen, and soon, millions were being siphoned off—starting with a US$40 million payout in March 2023.
As the money flowed, so did betrayal. The audio, now circulating widely, captures the two former partners accusing each other of theft, deception, and fraud. The raw emotion in the recording is not just about money—it’s about power, access, and the arrogance of those who believe they are untouchable.
And why wouldn’t they feel untouchable? Chivayo is known to be close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Despite being under investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), he remains free. His political cover runs deep—so deep, in fact, that in an earlier leaked recording, Chivayo openly boasts of his influence over Mnangagwa and names top government officials allegedly involved in the ZEC deal. These include ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba, CIO boss Isaac Moyo, and gold dealer-turned-politician Scott Sakupwanya.
These aren’t wild accusations from the streets—this is from the man at the heart of the deal. And instead of silencing the scandal, the leaked audio has opened a floodgate of outrage.
ZACC, under pressure, has launched investigations not only into Chivayo, Chimombe, and Mpofu’s involvement in the ZEC scandal but also into their role in another shady deal—the failed US$88 million Presidential Goats Scheme. These men are not lone wolves. They are part of a bigger, well-oiled system of looting, protected from prosecution by their political loyalty to ZANU PF’s highest offices.
Let’s be clear: this is not just about three corrupt businessmen. This is about the future of Zimbabwe’s democracy. If our electoral commission can be captured, bought, and used as a cash cow for the elite, how can we expect free and fair elections? What faith can ordinary Zimbabweans have in the ballot box when ZEC officials allegedly work hand-in-glove with looters?
As The NewsHawks continues to investigate and expose more details, this case is shaping up to be the biggest corruption scandal of the Mnangagwa era. And it couldn’t come at a worse time. With elections always around the corner, public confidence in democratic institutions is already low. Now, it risks collapsing completely.
Zimbabweans are rightly asking: where is the justice? Why has Chivayo not been arrested? Why is ZEC silent? Why are those implicated still holding public office or influencing government policy?
Meanwhile, Chimombe and Mpofu are already facing legal heat over the goat scheme, while the ZEC tender case unfolds like a slow-motion car crash. The people want accountability. But what they are getting is cover-ups, delays, and silence from a government that claims to fight corruption with “zero tolerance.”
This scandal is a test—not just for ZACC, but for the whole justice system. Will it hold the powerful accountable? Or will it once again let those with connections walk free while ordinary citizens suffer?
For too long, Zimbabwe has been ruled not by law, but by impunity. This ZEC scandal, if swept under the carpet, will be another nail in the coffin of trust. But if it is pursued with real courage, it could become the moment when Zimbabwe starts to fight back against elite looting and electoral fraud.
The eyes of the nation—and the world—are watching. It’s time for truth, justice, and an end to the lies. If elections are to mean anything in Zimbabwe, we must demand accountability now. No more audio tapes. No more backroom deals. We want arrests. We want resignations. We want justice.
Because democracy cannot survive when the ballot is up for sale.