Hawks Press On With R1,1 Billion Election Funds Probe as Cross-Border Gaps Emerge

South Africa’s Hawks say their investigation into the R1,1 billion Zimbabwe election procurement payments remains active (image source)

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) has confirmed that its probe into the R1,1 billion (about US$67,25 million) Zimbabwe election procurement scandal remains active, despite public claims in Zimbabwe that the matter had been closed. The investigation focuses on payments made by Zimbabwe’s Treasury to South African firm Ren Form CC for the supply of election materials during Zimbabwe’s 2023 general elections, transactions later flagged by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) as suspicious.

The Hawks’ stance contrasts with earlier statements by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which said it had found no evidence linking businessman Wicknell Chivayo to the payments. However, Hawks national spokesperson Thandi Mbambo said decisions taken in another jurisdiction do not bind South African investigators. She confirmed that the Hawks are analysing suspicious transaction reports compiled by the FIC and shared with multiple agencies, including the South African Revenue Service, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit. Persons of interest, she said, would only be formally identified once sufficient evidence has been gathered.

(image source)

The controversy centres on the procurement of election materials by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), which awarded the contract to Ren Form CC. Questions have persisted over the absence of a competitive tender process. The FIC later flagged Ren Form CC for allegedly inflating invoices and transferring substantial sums to several companies, including Intratrek Holdings, Dolintel Trading Enterprise, Edenbreeze, Asibambane Platinum Group and Agile Venture Capital, triggering money-laundering concerns under South African law.

Sources in Pretoria said they have received no official communication confirming that Zimbabwean investigations into Chivayo were concluded. Zacc has not responded to requests for clarification on whether it communicated its findings to South African authorities, while Ren Form CC and Zec had not commented at the time of publication. The case highlights the challenges of cross-border financial investigations involving public procurement and election financing, with the Hawks’ confirmation ensuring the matter remains legally and politically unresolved.