Wicknell Chivayo, an unorthodox businessman with strong links to Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, has once again come into the limelight following TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Ltd’s win of a US$439 million contract worth R7.9 Billion to supply cancer treatment machines to Zimbabwean hospitals.
Critics have voiced harsh condemnations of Chivayo‘s involvement as well as questioned the legality and legitimacy of such deals awarded through TTM.
This deal has drawn widespread scrutiny and questions the legitimacy and legality of such processes being awarded through which TTM Global Medical Exports’s involvement; many critics question his involvement given his history and notorious deals that often involved corrupt politicians such as himself being awarded these deals in which TTM is involved despite him previously engaged in questionable dealings to supplie his contracts to supply Zimbabwe hospitals which many regard him.
Contract Under Scrutiny
A government source recently described as a Presidential Scheme for Cancer Equipment Distribution has caused alarm across the nation, sparking outrage among opposition figures, media commentators and members of the public alike.
Many question how TTM Global (which only formed its business name on November 20, 24), managed to secure such an impressive government contract within months after incorporation despite standard tender processes and bypassing them with such haste as to cause potential concerns of transparency and fairness for everyone involved in signing such deals by Chief Secretary to President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya himself?
TTM Global stands to receive US$109,320,600 (R1.97 billion) annually over four years, and it was just founded seven months ago. Due to registration at Da Vinci Hotel and Suites in Johannesburg, with no medical manufacturing facility being registered under it, many people speculate whether TTM Global could be yet another “briefcase company” set up simply to siphon off government funds.
Lack of Transparency
Political figures such as Fadzayi Mahere have raised serious concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, specifically no public tender being issued for cancer treatment machines and their provision.
She directly challenged Chivayo on social media over why his newly established company received such an important contract award so quickly after registration; Mahere also challenged its bizarre location of registration as well as the legitimacy of operation.
Chivayo has not addressed these allegations publicly, and his silence has contributed to increased suspicions of corruption and mismanagement at high levels of government.
History of Controversy in Education
Chivayo has previously been embroiled in questionable deals. For example, his name surfaced as part of the Gwanda solar power project’s dismal failure, with millions paid without significant progress being made on that front alone.
Furthermore, IMC Communications recently gained attention after making headlines for pivoting from telecomms to road construction, raising further doubts about awarding government contracts without proper oversight and oversight mechanisms in place.
Reports by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) have reported on suspicious financial transactions linked to Chivayo. Allegedly, funds meant for government projects have been diverted towards luxury purchases instead. Chivayo has consistently denied these allegations of wrongdoing by his business dealings; further increasing public distrust.
Presidential Plan
The cancer treatment contract, initially proposed as part of President Robert Mugabe’s presidential scheme to equip Zimbabwean hospitals with lifesaving cancer treatment machinery, has generated much controversy in Zimbabwe’s healthcare system crisis and led many people to question its true intent – specifically whether all that money will improve Zimbabwean hospitals rather than being wasted by poorly executed government contracts.
Critics contend that awarding such an enormous contract to a firm with no record in medical equipment distribution is irresponsible when our healthcare infrastructure needs repair so badly, while its awarding without competitive tendering processes adds suspicions of nepotism or corruption.
The Role of President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Following recent headlines about cancer treatment deals in Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been widely accused of employing hospital tours as a public relations stunt and deflect public scrutiny away from corruption allegations surrounding them.
Mnangagwa’s visits to Parirenyatwa Hospital, Sally Mugabe Hospital and NatPharm warehouse was seen by some as an attempt at “cleansing up” this agreement and diverting public attention away from allegations surrounding them.
Jealous Mbizvo Mawarire, an influential journalist, accused President Mnangagwa of seeking to hide a US$439 million deal through deceptive methods that she termed as an attempt to fool the public and defraud their financial resources.
He described this attempt at coverup as being like an elaborate scheme designed to steal public money while informing on it falsehoods about itself.
Public outcry Zimbabweans continue to voice their outrage over this contract deal and its lack of official response by the Ministry of Health, TTM Global, and Office of the President has only compounded public anger further.
People want answers as to how a luxury hotel-based company was awarded nearly half a billion dollars without holding public tender.
Upon learning of this scandalous awarding of taxpayer funds without due process and transparency. There have also been calls for an independent investigation and increased government transparency and greater oversight over awarding contracts like these in future deals.
