Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) deputy chairperson Rodney Kiwa’s press conference was more like a comedy show, minus the laughs. When questioned about the R800 million paid to Wicknell Chivayo’s companies for election materials, Kiwa seemed to practice his newfound favorite phrase: “Ngatimbosiyana nayo” or “Let’s just leave it”. Conveniently, ZEC claims to have no involvement in the scandal, despite being the ones who used the materials.
Here’s a quick rundown of the alleged financial wizardry:
– Central Server: R23 million invoiced for a server costing R90,000 online. That’s a whopping 25,555% markup!
– Toilets: 2000 toilets billed at R68,700 each, with a retail price of around R10,000. Someone’s making a tidy profit.
– Suspicious Payments: R156 million paid to Edenbreeze for “architectural, engineering and other technical services”. Sounds legit.
Zimbabweans Aren’t Buying It. Social media erupted with criticism, questioning ZEC’s denial of involvement. Some notable reactions include:
– @bayhaus: “He can say this and behave this way because he knows one thing. Hapana zvamundoita”
– Brighton Mutebuka: “There is no point holding elections in Zimbabwe at this moment. ZEC is a crime scene”
– @Czeditor: “How can a ZEC Commissioner say it’s not their business when SA authorities confirmed that ZEC paid inflated tenders?”
– @NicksonMak41916: “Leadership has to be accountable for all its actions. Pressure is mounting and a pushback is inevitable”
ZEC’s credibility is at an all-time low, with many demanding accountability and transparency. The commission’s attempt to distance itself from Chivayo and other implicated businessmen has only intensified scrutiny. Will ZEC finally address the elephant in the room, or will they continue to play dumb?
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