By Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has dismissed allegations that high-ranking government officials have been influenced and are being controlled by the controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
In the audio recording, a voice alleged to be Chivayo’s is heard claiming to have complete control over Mnangagwa and all state institutions.
Charamba stated that the audio clip circulating on social media, allegedly featuring Chivayo, is fake and intended to damage Mnangagwa’s reputation.
“Is it not interesting that no one in the censorious formal or social media has taken the trouble to interview Wicknell Chivayo, firstly to authenticate the voice clip; secondly to hear his side of the story?
“Why does one get the sense there is a determination to sow and cultivate mere tall claims whose relationship to the media-accused is yet to be proven, hoping that such claims will one day attach to the President, grow and mature into some nonexistent scandal enormous enough to trip him? Nothing can be more insane,” Charamba questioned in a statement.
Meanwhile Chivayo has also denied the voice clips saying they were generated through sophisticated means and meant to attack his character.
“I categorically refute, deny and dismiss with contempt, recording the voice messages in question. For the avoidance of any doubt I have never, at any material time, recorded the alleged voice messages, nor have I transmitted such to anyone.
“I therefore unequivocally distance and totally dissociate myself from these unauthentic voice messages. I have reason to believe that these recordings were generated through sophisticated technology, all with the fraudulent intention of creating false alarm and despondency,” Chivayo said.
Chivayo also refuted allegations that he amassed a fortune from dubious government contracts, including a US$40 million payout from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for supplying voting materials.
“The machinations are also well calculated to put into question and cast aspersions on the procurement processes which relate to the conducting of the last elections in Zimbabwe. I wish to publicly state that I have not been involved, nor do I hold any influence over the procurement processes by Zec or any other government ministries, departments or agencies.”
