Wicknell Chivayo, also called ‘Sir Wicknell,’ is a Zimbabwean businessman and socialite well-known for his quick rise to wealth and frequent involvement in corruption scandals.
He owns businesses across Southern Africa, but his name often makes headlines not just for his ventures but for his lavish lifestyle and connections to powerful politicians, including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In 2017, the Zimbabwean Parliament began an investigation into Chivayo’s energy projects.
One of the most controversial cases involved a $200 million solar power project in Gwanda.
Despite receiving huge payments upfront, no actual work was done on the project.
By January 2018, it was revealed that the Zimbabwe Power Company had paid Chivayo’s company, Intratrek, $7 million in advance.
However, the site of the project remained undeveloped, leaving many questioning where the funds had gone.
This led to public outrage, as the money could have been used to address Zimbabwe’s persistent energy crisis.
The controversies didn’t stop there.
In 2024, Chivayo was linked to another scandal, this time involving Ren-Form, a South African printing firm.
The firm was accused of inflating the prices of election-related materials it supplied to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Documents revealed that some items were overpriced by as much as 235%, resulting in the ZEC paying the company over R570 million.
Chivayo, acting as an agent for Ren-Form, was allegedly instrumental in facilitating these questionable transactions.
This raised serious concerns about his role in enabling corruption.
Chivayo’s legal troubles go back years. In 2004, he was charged with fraud involving substantial sums of money and served time in Chikurubi Prison, one of Zimbabwe’s maximum-security facilities.
In December 2017, he was arrested again, this time on charges of money laundering and fraud over a $5 million contract with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).
His repeated run-ins with the law have done little to tarnish his confidence or diminish his influence.
In January 2025, Chivayo made news once again, this time in Kenya.
He visited the country and met with President William Ruto and his wife Rachel.
During the visit, he praised President Ruto, calling him a visionary leader and claiming to have learned leadership lessons from him.
Chivayo even went as far as saying Kenya might become his second home.
This meeting caused a stir, especially among Zimbabweans familiar with Chivayo’s past.
On social media, many criticized President Ruto for hosting someone with such a controversial background.
Others argued that the meeting was a standard diplomatic interaction.
However, questions about the ethics of associating with individuals accused of corruption lingered.
Chivayo’s close ties with high-ranking officials have always been a topic of debate.
In Zimbabwe, he is often seen with President Mnangagwa and other political elites, raising suspicions that his success in business may be tied to his political connections rather than legitimate ventures.
His recent meeting with President Ruto only added to the speculation about how much influence these ties afford him in business and politics.
Despite the allegations and scandals, Chivayo maintains a prominent position in social and business circles.
His social media pages often display his luxurious lifestyle, which attracts both admiration and criticism.
As he seeks to expand his influence beyond Zimbabwe, his interactions with global leaders like President Ruto are bound to be closely watched, especially by those concerned about the potential risks of engaging with individuals associated with corruption.
His ability to secure meetings with influential leaders despite his controversial history underscores the complex relationship between power, wealth, and accountability in international relations.
