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Chivayo, Bushiri cases dominate Anti-Corruption Conference
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The high-profile cases of fugitive Malawian preacher Shepherd Bushiri and controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo have taken centre stage at the 15th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, currently underway in Cape Town.
The four-day conference, hosted by South Africa's Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has drawn anti-corruption bodies from 21 Commonwealth African nations under the theme: "Enhancing Inclusive Participation of State and Non-State Actors to Prevent and Combat Corruption."
Speaking to the SABC, SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi confirmed that Bushiri's case was among the conference's key priorities, highlighting the growing urgency of addressing transnational financial crimes.
Authorities in South Africa have intensified investigations into both Bushiri and Chivayo, each accused of orchestrating complex fraud and money laundering operations with cross-border implications.
Chivayo is currently under investigation by South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and the police. The scrutiny follows revelations that Zimbabwe's Ministry of Finance disbursed more than R1.1 billion to Johannesburg-based printing firm Ren-Form for supplying election materials in 2023—without a public tender process. More than R800 million of that sum was allegedly routed through companies linked to Chivayo, including Intratrek Holdings and Dolintel Trading.
A confidential FIC report, obtained by regional investigators, outlines how large sums were rapidly transferred into Chivayo's associated entities, only to be further redistributed in what are being described as suspicious financial flows. These include R351 million to Asibambeki Platinum Group, R5.4 million to luxury car dealership Daytona, and R4 million to law firm Strauss Scher Inc.
Chivayo has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all transactions were legitimate business activities. However, leaked audio recordings—believed to feature Chivayo—boasting about bribing senior Zimbabwean officials to secure the contract have severely damaged his credibility. Although he later issued an apology to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other officials mentioned in the recordings, he did not dispute the authenticity of the alleged payments.
Despite a past conviction for fraud in the early 2000s, Chivayo has remained a politically connected figure in Zimbabwe, often seen at state events alongside Mnangagwa.
Meanwhile, South African authorities are pushing for the extradition of Shepherd Bushiri, who fled to Malawi in 2020 while on bail for charges of fraud, money laundering, and racketeering involving over R100 million. Alongside his wife Mary, Bushiri was arrested for allegedly defrauding investors under the guise of religious "miracle seed" offerings but fled the country claiming threats to their lives.
Since their flight, Malawi has resisted South Africa's extradition requests, citing procedural irregularities. Nonetheless, South African prosecutors continue to insist that Bushiri and his wife face justice, framing the case as a test of international legal cooperation and accountability for religious figures who exploit faith for personal enrichment.
The presence of these cases at the conference underscores the growing concern over politically insulated corruption networks in Africa. Both Bushiri and Chivayo are now viewed as emblematic of a wider problem: elite impunity enabled by state complicity, legal loopholes, and lack of regional coordination.
South Africa, which loses billions of rands annually to procurement corruption, hopes the Cape Town summit will help galvanise cross-border collaboration to crack down on illicit financial flows and bring perpetrators to justice.
As the conference continues, there are renewed calls for African countries to reinforce mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, asset recovery, and the extradition of individuals implicated in large-scale corruption.
The four-day conference, hosted by South Africa's Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has drawn anti-corruption bodies from 21 Commonwealth African nations under the theme: "Enhancing Inclusive Participation of State and Non-State Actors to Prevent and Combat Corruption."
Speaking to the SABC, SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi confirmed that Bushiri's case was among the conference's key priorities, highlighting the growing urgency of addressing transnational financial crimes.
Authorities in South Africa have intensified investigations into both Bushiri and Chivayo, each accused of orchestrating complex fraud and money laundering operations with cross-border implications.
Chivayo is currently under investigation by South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and the police. The scrutiny follows revelations that Zimbabwe's Ministry of Finance disbursed more than R1.1 billion to Johannesburg-based printing firm Ren-Form for supplying election materials in 2023—without a public tender process. More than R800 million of that sum was allegedly routed through companies linked to Chivayo, including Intratrek Holdings and Dolintel Trading.
A confidential FIC report, obtained by regional investigators, outlines how large sums were rapidly transferred into Chivayo's associated entities, only to be further redistributed in what are being described as suspicious financial flows. These include R351 million to Asibambeki Platinum Group, R5.4 million to luxury car dealership Daytona, and R4 million to law firm Strauss Scher Inc.
Chivayo has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all transactions were legitimate business activities. However, leaked audio recordings—believed to feature Chivayo—boasting about bribing senior Zimbabwean officials to secure the contract have severely damaged his credibility. Although he later issued an apology to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other officials mentioned in the recordings, he did not dispute the authenticity of the alleged payments.
Despite a past conviction for fraud in the early 2000s, Chivayo has remained a politically connected figure in Zimbabwe, often seen at state events alongside Mnangagwa.
Meanwhile, South African authorities are pushing for the extradition of Shepherd Bushiri, who fled to Malawi in 2020 while on bail for charges of fraud, money laundering, and racketeering involving over R100 million. Alongside his wife Mary, Bushiri was arrested for allegedly defrauding investors under the guise of religious "miracle seed" offerings but fled the country claiming threats to their lives.
Since their flight, Malawi has resisted South Africa's extradition requests, citing procedural irregularities. Nonetheless, South African prosecutors continue to insist that Bushiri and his wife face justice, framing the case as a test of international legal cooperation and accountability for religious figures who exploit faith for personal enrichment.
The presence of these cases at the conference underscores the growing concern over politically insulated corruption networks in Africa. Both Bushiri and Chivayo are now viewed as emblematic of a wider problem: elite impunity enabled by state complicity, legal loopholes, and lack of regional coordination.
South Africa, which loses billions of rands annually to procurement corruption, hopes the Cape Town summit will help galvanise cross-border collaboration to crack down on illicit financial flows and bring perpetrators to justice.
As the conference continues, there are renewed calls for African countries to reinforce mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, asset recovery, and the extradition of individuals implicated in large-scale corruption.
Source - online
