Wicknell Chivayo is one of the most talked-about men in Zimbabwe today. He is known for his flashy lifestyle, his expensive clothes, his cars, and his holidays. But behind all the glamour is a painful truth. Chivayo is not rich because of hard work or talent. He is rich because of his friendship with powerful people — especially President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In Zimbabwe, many people call Chivayo a “tenderpreneur.” This means he gets big government contracts, or tenders, over and over again. He wins these tenders while other honest businesspeople are left with nothing. The reason? He is close to the President. His friendship with Mnangagwa has made him one of the richest men in the country, while millions of Zimbabweans struggle just to survive.

This is what is wrong with our country. It is not that we do not have money. Zimbabwe is rich in gold, diamonds, and many other natural resources. But that wealth is going to a few people like Chivayo. These are people who do not build the country — they loot it. They take from the public and give nothing back. And they do it while showing off, laughing in the faces of the poor.

Chivayo’s story is not one of success. It is a story of corruption. Many Zimbabweans believe that he gets tenders not because he is the best, but because of who he knows. This is called cronyism — giving jobs and contracts to friends. This kind of system destroys the country. It shuts the door on honest workers. It stops growth. It keeps people poor while the connected few live in luxury.

The government keeps saying it wants to end corruption. But how can we believe that when men like Chivayo keep getting more contracts? If Mnangagwa’s government truly wants to fight corruption, it must start by dealing with its own friends. No one should be protected because of friendship. No one should be above the law.

What hurts the most is what this does to the young people of Zimbabwe. So many young people finish school with dreams of success. But there are no jobs. No opportunities. No support. The government does not help them. It helps the Chivayos. It gives tenders to those already rich, while the youth are told to be patient and suffer quietly.

Chivayo is not just a businessman. He is now a powerful man in politics too. When one person has both money and power, democracy is in danger. He can control who gets jobs. He can control who gets contracts. He can even influence what people say. This is not how a free country should work.

As a political activist, I say this clearly: Wicknell Chivayo is not a role model. He is a sign of what is broken. He is a product of a system that rewards friendship, not fairness. He is a result of a government that works for the few, not the many.

Zimbabweans must not stay silent. We must say no to corruption. We must say no to cronyism. We must say no to tenderpreneurs who grow fat while children go hungry.

Our future depends on it. We must demand leaders who care. We must demand a system that rewards hard work, not connections. Let us build a Zimbabwe where wealth is earned honestly, not stolen through tenders. Let us rise and say: enough is enough.

Let the Chivayos of this country know — the people are watching, and change is coming.