Published – 18:26, January 11, 2026
By Thabelo Ramulifho
South Africa – South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, has confirmed that its investigation into a R1.1 billion (approximately US$67.25 million) Zimbabwean election funds scandal remains active, directly contradicting public statements from Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption body.
The ongoing probe has once again brought Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo under scrutiny.The Hawks are pursuing inquiries into suspicious financial transactions linked to payments made by the Zimbabwean Treasury to the South African firm Ren Form CC. These payments were for the supply of electoral materials during Zimbabwe’s 2023 general elections. The funds were subsequently flagged after being channeled to a network of companies allegedly associated with Chivayo, prompting money-laundering investigations in both South Africa and Zimbabwe.Last year, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) publicly declared that it had found no connection between Chivayo and the R1.1 billion.
However, sources close to the investigation in Pretoria indicate that Zacc has not formally communicated this position to South African authorities. Thandi Mbambo, national spokesperson for the Hawks, stated, “The decision taken in another country will not affect our investigation. The evidence gathered on this side will determine a way forward.” Mbambo confirmed that the unit is analyzing suspicious transaction reports generated by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), which were shared with the South African Revenue Service, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, and Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).”We are looking at the suspicious transactions flagged by the FIC.
Only when evidence has been gathered will a formal investigation be launched, and we will know as well who is the person of interest,” Mbambo added.The core of the issue revolves around the R1.1 billion payment to Ren Form CC, a company reportedly selected by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) without a competitive tender process. The FIC later red-flagged Ren Form for allegedly inflating invoices to Zec and for transferring substantial amounts to several firms purportedly linked to Chivayo, including Intratrek Holdings, Dolintel Trading Enterprise, Edenbreeze, Asibambane Platinum Group, and Agile Venture Capital.
South African authorities have received no official notification from Zimbabwe regarding Chivayo’s clearance. An involved source noted, “Our investigation, based on payments transferred by Zimbabwe’s Treasury to Ren Form CC and subsequently channelled to firms linked to Chivayo, is still alive. Investigations of this nature take long to conclude. We are still investigating. Unfortunately, investigations are not run through the press.”Chivayo, who has a fraud conviction from 2004, has previously voiced concerns about the impact of the investigations on his personal and business life.
He stated in December, “Any reputational damage is almost irreparable. The prolonged investigations, based on fabricated allegations, caused severe and irreparable damage to my business interests and personal reputation over the past two years.” He also confirmed that, despite Zacc’s public announcements, he had not received formal notification of the Zimbabwean investigation’s closure. Questions sent to Zacc in December regarding the formal conclusion of its probe and notification to the Hawks remained unanswered.
A source familiar with the matter commented, “In plain terms, it is not clear whether Zacc actually closed its investigation despite the chairman’s announcement last year. What is clear is that nothing has been communicated by Zacc to the Hawks or to Chivayo.”Ren Form CC had not responded to inquiries at the time of publication, and Zec has not provided an explanation for the selection of the company without a public tender. The international scope of the investigation appears to be broadening, with the United States Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly examining aspects of the case.
