Chivayo dismisses cancer equipment contract claims as fake

Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has denied involvement in a reported US$400 million cancer treatment equipment supply deal with the government, dismissing recently leaked documents as "fake" and politically motivated misinformation.

Chivayo's denial comes amid growing public scrutiny following the emergence of paperwork allegedly detailing a lucrative contract for the supply of oncology and diagnostic equipment to major public hospitals. The documents surfaced after Chivayo reportedly fell out with a consultant over an unpaid medical bill related to the same project.

Despite mounting evidence pointing to the authenticity of the documents, Chivayo took to social media on Tuesday, claiming he had no part in any binding deal and accusing critics of desperation.

"Ini ndiri kuno ku PARIS ku HOLIDAY hangu ndapota musandi nyangadze please," he wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. "For a whole group of opposition outfits to team up and make noise about an unsigned FAKE document is an embarrassing desperation for political relevance."

Chivayo downplayed the allegations as "nonsensical misinformation," saying no legal basis existed without a signed agreement.

"Please put some respect to my name. When I said I'm on track to be a BILLIONAIRE by Vision 2030 asi maifunga kuti ndino chera ndichi tengesa mbeva? Zve politics zvakaramba but at least try to PRETEND to understand the basics of LAW – that an unsigned contract is not worth the paper it's printed on," he said.

He also accused his detractors of seeking social media relevance, adding: "You are too DESPERATE for content… circulating such UNFOUNDED and NONSENSICAL misinformation."

Chivayo's comments follow President Emmerson Mnangagwa's controversial hospital visits on June 16 to Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Central Hospitals, which some critics believe were intended to justify the multi-million-dollar contract under scrutiny.

Former National Patriotic Front spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire is among those who have publicly accused the government of engaging in opaque procurement processes, saying the visits were part of a campaign to sanitize the untendered cancer equipment deal allegedly linked to Chivayo.

Sources familiar with the matter claim the contract documentation and internal government correspondence, now circulating online, detail the awarding of the supply deal to a company fronted by Chivayo. The leak reportedly followed a falling out with a South African consultant responsible for medical specifications on the project.

Analysts say the saga raises serious questions about transparency and due process in government procurement, especially for critical sectors like healthcare. Despite Chivayo's denials, calls for an independent investigation continue to mount.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has not issued any formal statement regarding the alleged contract. Parliamentarians and civil society groups are expected to push for answers in the coming days.

Chivayo, a polarising figure with a chequered record of state-linked deals, has been at the centre of several high-profile controversies, including a previously aborted solar power project with the Zimbabwe Power Company that cost taxpayers millions without delivery.

The businessman, however, remains defiant.

"I will never stop working hard, moving from strength to strength," he said, suggesting that the backlash was nothing more than envy of his success.