Long before Wicknell Chivayo became famous for his luxury cars, extravagant lifestyle and multimillion-dollar gifts, the Zimbabwean businessman had already experienced life behind bars.
His imprisonment was linked to a controversial solar-power contract that plunged his business empire into a major legal battle and placed him at the centre of one of Zimbabwe’s high-profile financial scandals.
Chivayo, who died in a helicopter crash in September 2026, had built a reputation as a flamboyant businessman with close connections to powerful political figures. But years before his death, he was arrested and remanded in custody over allegations surrounding a multimillion-dollar government project.
The Gwanda solar project
At the centre of the case was Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company associated with Chivayo.
In 2015, Intratrek secured a contract connected to the construction of a 100-megawatt solar power plant in Gwanda, Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) subsequently paid the company an advance of about US$5.6 million for pre-commencement works.
Prosecutors later alleged that the money was misappropriated and that the required work had not been carried out as expected. They accused Chivayo of converting some of the funds for personal or unrelated business purposes.
The allegations were serious. Chivayo faced charges including fraud, money laundering and violations of Zimbabwe’s Exchange Control Act.
Arrested at the airport
In August 2018, Chivayo was arrested at Robert Mugabe International Airport while he was reportedly preparing to travel to South Africa.
The prosecution argued that he was a flight risk and should remain in custody. Prosecutors told the court that the alleged financial prejudice exceeded US$5.6 million and that none of the money had been recovered at that stage.
His lawyers strongly disputed the suggestion that he intended to flee Zimbabwe. They argued that he had returned to the country despite reports that police wanted to question him and that he possessed a return ticket.
The magistrate initially refused his bail application, meaning Chivayo spent time in remand prison while the legal battle continued. Contemporary reporting states that he remained behind bars pending further court proceedings.
A second legal storm
The solar case was not the only legal trouble Chivayo encountered.
Later in 2018, he faced allegations connected to a US$10,000 payment allegedly made to Stanley Nyasha Kazhanje, then chairman of the Zimbabwe Power Company board. Prosecutors alleged the payment was intended to influence decisions concerning the Intratrek contract. Chivayo denied wrongdoing.
Despite the serious allegations, it is important to distinguish being arrested or remanded from being convicted.
Chivayo’s Gwanda solar case ultimately took a dramatic turn. In 2019, the High Court quashed the charges and acquitted Chivayo and Intratrek. The Prosecutor-General challenged that decision, leading to a Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court judgment records that the High Court had quashed the charges and acquitted the respondents.
Thus, although Chivayo was jailed in the sense that he spent time in remand custody, the widely discussed Gwanda fraud case did not ultimately result in a criminal conviction against him.
From prison cell to extravagant lifestyle
The irony of Chivayo’s story is striking.
The man who once spent days behind bars would later become one of Zimbabwe’s most visible wealthy businessmen, regularly displaying luxury vehicles, expensive possessions, international travel and large cash gifts.
His story also became intertwined with politics and government contracts, attracting continuing public scrutiny over how he accumulated his wealth. BBC reporting noted that Chivayo later became known for lavish gifts while continuing to face questions and controversy surrounding his business dealings.
His time in prison therefore became one of the lesser-known chapters in the life of a businessman who would eventually become famous across Zimbabwe and beyond.
From a controversial US$5.6 million solar project to an airport arrest, a remand cell and ultimately an acquittal, Chivayo’s legal history demonstrates how quickly a government contract can turn into a courtroom battle—and how dramatically a public figure’s fortunes can change.
