Audio recordings circulating on social media have brought renewed attention to a government-awarded solar power contract from 2015. The recordings, attributed to Joachim Chivayo, contain allegations regarding the use of an advance payment made to Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company directed by his brother, businessman Wicknell Chivayo, for the construction of a 100-megawatt solar plant in Gwanda.
In 2015, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a state-owned entity, awarded Intratrek Zimbabwe a contract valued at over $171 million for the Gwanda project. According to official reports and court documents, ZPC made an advance payment of approximately $5.6 million to Intratrek for preliminary work on the site. The project has since experienced significant delays and remains incomplete.
The recently surfaced audio recordings feature a voice, purported to be that of Joachim Chivayo, describing expenditures allegedly made following the advance payment. The voice on the recordings claims that funds were used for personal expenses, including the purchase of luxury goods and international travel, rather than for the solar project’s development. The authenticity of the recordings has not been independently verified, and Wicknell Chivayo has not issued a public statement directly addressing their contents.
This development follows years of legal and public scrutiny over the Gwanda contract. Wicknell Chivayo was previously arrested and faced charges related to the project, including fraud. However, he was later acquitted of the charges by the High Court. A subsequent Supreme Court ruling upheld the validity of the contract between Intratrek and ZPC, ordering the power utility to engage with the company to see the project to completion.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has previously investigated the matter. Following the circulation of the new audio recordings, public discussion about the project has intensified, though no new official investigation has been announced by government bodies.
The Gwanda solar project was intended to help address Zimbabwe’s long-standing energy shortages by adding 100 megawatts of renewable power to the national grid. To date, minimal construction has taken place at the designated site in Matabeleland South province. The status of the project and the funds allocated for its initial phases remain subjects of public interest.
