Wicknell Chivayo Vows Mutodi Will Lose Parliamentary Seat At Next Election After Bribery Scandal

Wicknell Chivayo Pledges To Oust Energy Mutodi In Elections

Controversial businessman and tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo has vowed that Bikita South MP Energy Mutodi will lose his parliamentary seat in the next elections. His remarks come just days after Mutodi was dismissed from his powerful role as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion, following corruption allegations he raised against Finance Secretary George Guvamatanga.

Chivayo Reacts To Mutodi’s Removal

Writing on his official X account on 9 October 2025, Wicknell Chivayo, the controversial businessman known for his flamboyant lifestyle and lucrative government tenders, dismissed Mutodi as unfit to continue representing his constituency.

He stated:

“Mutorei ku CCC kana ku Zanu hatichamudi, as an Honourable Member trusted with the position of Chairman of a portfolio committee we don’t expect you speculate or conjecture in parliament. Kana seat rake next election we will make sure anodyiwa ku ma primary.”
(Take him into CCC, as ZANU PF we no longer want him. As an Honourable Member, we don’t expect speculation in Parliament. In the next election we will make sure he loses his seat in the primaries.)

The post quickly spread across social media, attracting thousands of views and comments.

Mutodi Fired After Corruption Allegations

Energy Mutodi was stripped of his position as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion on 7 October 2025. The announcement was made through a letter signed by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda.

The removal followed Mutodi’s explosive allegations that George Guvamatanga, the Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry, was running a bribery ring.

In Parliament and on X, Mutodi claimed:

“The Parliament of Zim has received agonising reports that PermSec in the Ministry of Finance Mr George Guvamatanga is receiving 5–10% for every payment done by Treasury.”

He further alleged that road contractor Bitumen was forced to pay US$200,000 (R3.6 million) for every US$2,000,000 (R36 million) released by Treasury.

Mutodi also said Guvamatanga had “accumulated more than US$1 billion (R18 billion)” through kickbacks.

However, the Bikita South MP later retracted his accusations, admitting he could not substantiate them.

Opposition And Government React

The removal sparked a storm in political circles.

Opposition figures said Parliament had overreached. Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti wrote on X:

“The abrupt removal … is an abject unconstitutional overreach by a desperate canterkarous cartel that has captured the State … Hon Mutodi enjoys constitutional protection and has an obligation to raise a matter of national interest.”

Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba, writing on X under his pseudonym Dhonzamusoro007, defended the dismissal:

“Thank you, Speaker, for upholding the integrity of Parliament and the doctrine of separation of powers. Parliaments use hearings to make a case, not bald, defamatory allegations against the Executive.”

David Coltart, another opposition politician, also weighed in on 8 October 2025. He said the case was an opportunity for MPs to use Parliamentary Privilege to openly debate corruption allegations without fear of defamation lawsuits.

He explained:

“This is what Parliamentary Privilege is all about. It gives MPs a unique opportunity to speak on a public platform … Now is the time in Zimbabwe for them to show their mettle and prove that the electorate was justified in placing their trust in this crop of MPs.”