The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) finally broke its silence over the raging scandal involving controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his erstwhile partners who are feuding over proceeds from a contract to supply election materials for last year’s elections.
A leaked recording of a conversation between Chivayo and his former business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe revealed that the two were part of the deal involving a South African company Ren-Form CC worth over US$40 million and they fell out over disagreements in sharing the loot.
In its response where it denied any relationship with the trio, Zec left us with more questions than answers.
Treasury documents and invoices that have since been leaked into the public dormain indeed show that Ren-Form CC did enter into an agreement with Betterbrands, a company owned by Zanu PF legislator Scot Sukupwanya, which then partnered with Chivayo.
The purpose of the deal was allegedly to work together to establish a proposal to Zec for the supply of voter registration kits and election materials.
In the leaked audios, which Chivayo claimed were fake but still attributed to Chimombe and Mpofu, it was revealed that huge payments had been by treasury as part of the deal.
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It was curious that the release of the Zec statement coincided with the leaking of a Ren-Form CCC letter to the commission denying any relationship with Chivayo, Chimombe and Mpofu.
There are now fears that there is a coordinated effort to shield Chivayo from justice because his prosecution might expose some high ranking government officials and Zec’s role in the scandal.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) chairperson Michael Reza boasted in an interview that their investigators had gathered enough to prosecute the Chivayo, Chimombe and Mpofu for alleged money laundering emanating from the Zec deal.
Zacc said it had invited the three for interrogation and it is a major source of concern that almost a week later there has been no movement in the case, but instead we are seeing attempts to sweep the case under the carpet.
Zimbabweans expect a transparent investigation into the several allegations raised in the leaked audio recording, treasury documents and agreements between the entities that have been mentioned in the scandal.
There must be no sacred cows in the investigation, which means that every individual or entity that has been mention in the case must be brought to account without any fear or favour.