SA Hawks' probe into R1,1bn Zec tender still on

South Africa's elite crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, has confirmed that its investigation into the R1.1 billion Zimbabwean election funds scandal is still active, contradicting claims by Zimbabwe's anti-corruption watchdog and placing businessman Wicknell Chivayo back under scrutiny.

The Hawks are probing suspicious financial flows linked to payments made by Zimbabwe's Treasury to South African firm Ren Form CC for supplying polling materials during the 2023 general elections. The funds were later flagged after being transferred to a network of companies allegedly linked to Chivayo, prompting money-laundering investigations in both countries.

Last year, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) publicly stated it had found no link between Chivayo and the R1.1 billion (US$67.25 million), but sources indicate that this position has not been formally communicated to South African authorities.

"The decision taken in another country will not affect our investigation. The evidence gathered on this side will determine a way forward," Hawks national spokesperson Thandi Mbambo told the Zimbabwe Independent.

Mbambo confirmed that the unit is analysing suspicious transaction reports generated by South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), which were shared with the South African Revenue Service, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, and Zimbabwe's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

At the centre of the case is the R1.1 billion payment to Ren Form CC, allegedly selected by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) without a competitive tender process. The FIC flagged the company for inflating invoices and transferring large sums to multiple firms reportedly linked to Chivayo, including Intratrek Holdings, Dolintel Trading Enterprise, Edenbreeze, Asibambane Platinum Group, and Agile Venture Capital.

Sources in Pretoria confirmed that South African authorities have not received official notification that Chivayo had been cleared by Zimbabwean investigators.

"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," a source involved in the probe stated.
"Investigations of this nature take long to conclude. We are still investigating. Unfortunately, investigations are not run through the press."

Chivayo, convicted of fraud in 2004, has previously lamented the personal and business toll of the investigations.

"Any reputational damage is almost irreparable," he told the Independent in December.
"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 he had not received formal notification that the Zimbabwean investigation had been closed, despite ZACC's public statements. Repeated inquiries to ZACC in December about the status of the investigation went unanswered.

At the time of publication, Ren Form CC had not responded to questions, and ZEC had yet to explain how the company was selected without a public tender.

The case appears to be drawing international attention, with reports suggesting that the US Justice Department and the FBI are also examining aspects of the scandal.