A nearly half a billion dollar contract for cancer treatment equipment between the Zimbabwean government and a South African company owned by controversial tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo has ignited a major controversy, with critics alleging widespread corruption and a blatant disregard for public procurement procedures.
The deal, valued at approximately US$437.28 million over four years, reportedly did not go through a public tendering process.
The contract, signed in March 2025, is between the Office of the President and Cabinet, represented by Chief Secretary Martin Rushwaya, and TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd of South Africa, represented by CEO Rouxne Styger.
Its stated purpose is the “supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of cancer treatment equipment at various government hospitals and medical facilities in Zimbabwe,” addressing a noted increase in cancer cases, with around 8,500 new diagnoses annually.
The government also cited a special surtax on sugar content in beverages (Statutory Instrument 16 of 2024) aimed at funding cancer care.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Government of Zimbabwe is committed to an annual payment of US$109,320,600.00.
This includes an initial deposit of US$52,500,000.00 paid within 14 days of the contract’s signature, followed by monthly installments of US$9,110,050.00, commencing April 30, 2025, and continuing for the four-year duration.
The delivery of equipment is phased, with the first 20% expected within six months to major referral hospitals, followed by deliveries to provincial and district hospitals over the subsequent months.
However, the nature of the contract has raised significant concerns.
Former Mt Pleasant MP Fadzayi Mahere asked Nick Mangwana, the government spokesperson to explain why the deal was reportedly awarded to Chivayo’s company. A company research by Mahere revealed that Chivayo is the owner of TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd .
Mahere asked a series of questions:
“Kindly confirm that the procurement contract for the supply and installation of cancer machines was entered into by the Govt with TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd as appears from the contractual document below?
“Are you aware that a basic company search reveals that Wicknell Chivayo is the registered director/shareholder of this South African company?
“How was Mr Chivayo’s company selected to supply the cancer treatment equipment? Was there a public tender process?
“Can you now understand the lack of public trust around how state contracts and transactions are conducted? Can you see why the public views your entire system as corrupt? It’s a mess.”
Political commentator Jealousy Mawarire described the deal as a “scam” and a “heist,” specifically linking it to a “Dumbuzenene linked South African company” and accusing Chief Secretary Martin Rushwaya and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of orchestrating the alleged corrupt scheme.
Mawarire highlighted that the contract was entered into without going to tender, a critical procedural omission in public procurement.
Adding to the skepticism, President Mnangagwa made an unannounced visit to two central hospitals in Harare and a Natpharm warehouse on Monday, two months after the contract with TTM Global Medical was signed.
Mawarire dismissed this tour as a “poor window dressing gimmick by lunatics who think all Zimbabweans are fools,” suggesting it was a retrospective attempt to sanitise the controversial deal.
Development economist Chenayi Mutambasere echoed these sentiments, labeling Mnangagwa’s hospital visit as “disingenuous” and a “surprise” move to feign ignorance of the country’s “collapsing healthcare system.”
Mutambasere pointed out that Zimbabwe’s national budget allocated only 10% to health last year, significantly below the 15% Abuja target, and questioned how a functioning health system could account for 49% of deaths from preventable communicable diseases.
“It’s disingenuous for Mnangagwa to stage a ‘surprise’ visit to Parirenyatwa and feign ignorance of Zimbabwe’s collapsing healthcare system.
“Last year, only 10% of the national budget was allocated to health far below the 15% Abuja target. You don’t get 49% of deaths from preventable communicable diseases in a functioning health system.
“This visit is just for vibes and looting. They say an arsonist always visits the scene of the crime,” she stated.
In response to the mounting criticism, government spokesperson Nick Mangwana defended the executive’s actions stating that the “Cabinet’s role is to make and implement decisions within the law.”
“As the Executive arm of the State, the Cabinet’s role is to make and implement decisions within the law. Transactions sanctioned by Cabinet shouldn’t be assumed corrupt, given the collective nature of the decision-making process,” Mangwana stated.
Controversy surrounding public contracts is not new for Chivayo. A bombshell report from South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) recently unveiled a significant financial transaction where Chivayo received more than R800 million (US$41.9 million).
This amount stemmed from a R1.1 billion (US$61.1 million) payment disbursed by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Finance to Ren-Form CC for election supplies in anticipation of the 2023 general elections.
Reportedly, once the Treasury made the payment, Ren-Form transferred the majority of the money to Chivayo’s companies, namely Intratrek Holdings and Dolintel Trading Enterprise.
Chivayo this week pledged a US$1 million donation to Mnangagwa’s foundation as a Father’s Day gift.
