ZIMBABWE ELECTION SCANDAL EXPOSED IN SOUTH AFRICA

If anyone still thought Zimbabwe’s elections are free and fair, the latest news from South Africa has killed that dream. What is coming out now shows that our elections are bought and sold like tomatoes in the market.

A company in South Africa called Ren-Form is now under investigation. South African financial regulators are going after this company for money laundering. Why? Because they helped corrupt people in Zimbabwe steal money meant for the 2023 elections.

Ren-Form is based in Johannesburg. This company was hired to supply election materials to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). But instead of doing a clean job, they partnered with Wicknell Chivayo, a man already known for shady deals and working closely with ZANU PF.

Together, Ren-Form and Chivayo did something terrible. They charged very high prices for simple things. For example, they charged ZEC R23 million for a computer server that should only cost R90,000. That’s like paying for a house when you’re buying a bicycle. They also charged R68,700 for toilets that normally cost R10,000. This is not just overpricing — this is stealing. And they were not doing it by mistake. They did it on purpose so they could share the money among themselves.

Last year, an investigation by The Sentry and Open Secrets exposed all this. Their report was published by the Daily Maverick in South Africa. It showed how Ren-Form and Chivayo worked hand-in-hand to cheat Zimbabweans. Their goal was simple: steal from the election budget and give money to top people in Zimbabwe’s government.

Even more shocking, there is a leaked voice recording of Chivayo. In it, he talks about how the stolen money will be shared. He uses code names and initials to hide who he is talking about, but it’s clear these are top officials in Zimbabwe. This is proof that the people in charge of running elections are the same ones destroying them.

When asked about this, a top Ren-Form official named Jean-Pierre du Sart said, “Chivayo is one of our agents over there, so there’s nothing wrong with that.” Nothing wrong? How can stealing from the people be called nothing wrong? This shows how arrogant and careless they are. They do not fear the law because they think no one will stop them.

Back in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says they are investigating. But let’s be honest. Zimbabweans do not trust ZACC. We have seen this movie before. Many cases go nowhere. The big fish are never arrested. The real thieves are protected.

But now, South Africa is taking action. This is not just a Zimbabwe problem anymore. The corruption has crossed the border. It has become a regional issue. Maybe, just maybe, something will finally be done now that outsiders are involved.

This whole story is not just about money. It is about how our democracy was sold. It is about how elections are rigged before a single vote is cast. It is about how the powerful continue to hold power by cheating and stealing.

Zimbabweans are tired. We are angry. We want justice. We want those who sold our elections to face the law. Not just Chivayo, but also ZEC officials and everyone else involved. They must all be exposed and punished.

The truth is now in the open. The world is watching. And this time, we will not stop shouting until the thieves are brought down.

Enough is enough.