Opposition figure Fadzayi Mahere says ZACC’s clearance of Chivayo on ZEC tenders is biased
Prominent lawyer and opposition figure Fadzayi Mahere has issued a sharp critique of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ZACC) decision to clear businessman Wicknell Chivayo of wrongdoing in the ZEC tender scandal, labelling the investigation’s conclusion as “superficial” and “far too narrow”.
In a public statement directed at ZACC, Mahere questioned the anti-graft body’s focus on the lack of a direct contract between Chivayo and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), arguing that the investigation ignored critical leads regarding money laundering and third-party payments.
Key Questions Raised by Mahere
Mahere’s rebuttal outlined three primary areas where she alleges ZACC failed to conduct a rigorous investigation:
Ignored Financial Intelligence: Mahere asked if ZACC acted on intelligence from South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre, which reportedly recorded “suspicious transactions” between the South African firm RenForm CC and Chivayo. She argued that ending the probe based solely on the absence of a direct contract was insufficient given these external leads.
Unexplained Payments and Money Laundering: While acknowledging ZEC’s contract was with RenForm CC, Mahere contended that the core issue was why RenForm subsequently paid “millions to Mr Chivayo’s account”. She pressed ZACC on whether they conducted a bank statement analysis to investigate potential money laundering or if the tender prices were inflated to cover “shady consultancy fees”.
Alleged Bias and Lack of Due Process: Mahere questioned ZACC’s apparent bias against accusers Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, asking if investigators interviewed them to obtain their version of events. She further challenged ZACC’s conclusion that Chivayo was truthful without referring the matter to the courts for formal adjudication.
Call for Rigorous Action
Mahere concluded by reminding ZACC of its constitutional mandate to fight corruption, stating that the public expects “far more rigorous investigations” than the findings presented. She criticised the clearance of Chivayo as a “superficial conclusion,” suggesting that the handling of the case points to a need for new leadership within the institution. –
Source: Zimbo LIVE Harare
