Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo is the founder and CEO of Intratrek Zimbabwe. His company has been linked to several energy projects, including a controversial deal to supply solar power to Zimbabwe’s national grid.
Beyond his professional achievements, he is known for his controversial life occasioned by extravagant displays of wealth and his frequent engagement in highly publicized online altercations with his family, the Zimbabwean media, and government officials.
Here is his story as told by WoK,
Early Life
Wicknell Chivayo was born on November 22, 1982, and was raised by his mother, Canisia Chivayo, in Chivhu’s Gandami area after the tragic death of his father, Isaac Mathias Chivayo, in a car accident. He has several siblings, including a younger sister, Moreblessing Madeline Chivayo, known as Moe. Unfortunately, their mother, Canisia, passed away on January 6, 2021.
Education
Chivayo began schooling at Dudley Hall Primary School before moving on to Churchill Boys High School for secondary education. Despite being academically gifted, it is reported that he was forced to drop out in 1996 due to financial challenges.
Dropping Out Of School & Early Jobs
After leaving school, Chivayo took on various jobs, including working as a wages clerk at a local bus company. His first brush with the law occurred during this time when he became involved in illegal money-changing activities, which escalated into fraudulent schemes. This led to his conviction and a three-year sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, where he was incarcerated from 2004 to 2006.
Business Career
After his release from prison, Chivayo turned his life around by pursuing a business career that led to significant wealth. He accumulated his fortune through various ventures, including lucrative energy contracts and other business deals.
Controversies
Chivayo’s sources of wealth have sparked widespread speculation and controversy. Throughout his career, he has been associated with several government tenders and contracts, particularly in the energy sector, which have played a key role in building his fortune.
He owns businesses across various South African states and has ties to powerful figures in Zimbabwean politics, including the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, which raises suspicions on his connections in the government.
A prominent case in his career was his involvement in a government-funded solar project in 2017, where he was accused of failing to deliver the promised solar power plants worth $200 million.
The plants were to supply the national grid and despite receiving the substantial payments from the government, he did not fulfill his obligations. In 2019, he faced charges of fraud and corruption related to the failed solar projects.
Chivayo is famous for his extravagant gifting, frequently handing out brand new cars to actors and musicians. It is hence no surprise that in 2023, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) uncovered irregularities in the tax payments of IMC Plant Hire (Pvt) Ltd, a company connected to Chivayo, which had imported multiple luxury vehicles.
In 2024, Chivayo found himself under scrutiny once again when a printing firm linked to him, Ren-Form, came under investigation by Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption authority for overcharging election-related materials and equipment. The South Africa-based firm is accused of inflating the price of ballot papers, billing the country over $30 million.
Despite maintaining that he is a legitimate businessman, his legal battles are still ongoing. His networth is estimated to be $5.13 million and asserts that his wealth is a blessing from God and questions the need for illicit activities to acquire it.
His relationship with President Ruto is close, which he argues helps him learn leadership skills from the head of state.
