He wields immense power, if the numerous photos of him alongside presidents and influential figures are anything to go by.
The images tell a story of unprecedented access.
In one photo, Wicknell Chivayo, a Zimbabwean businessman, is photographed casually with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi.
Another frame shows him alongside Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanzania.
For most business leaders, such proximity to power would represent career-defining moments.
For Chivayo, they appear routine.
But who exactly is this man commanding such high-level attention across Southern Africa?
Chivayo serves as director of Intratrek Zimbabwe, an Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contractor specializing in renewable energy projects.
According to the company's website, Intratrek focuses on large-scale solar and hydro power projects, claiming "more than 200MW of grid-tied solar plants currently under implementation" designed to transform Zimbabwe's energy landscape.
Yet this polished corporate image contrasts sharply with Chivayo's legal history.
In 2004, he was convicted of fraud involving R837,000 and sentenced to three years in Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
Fast forward to 2015. Chivayo's company won a $172.08 million tender to build a 100-megawatt solar plant. The Zimbabwe Power Company paid him a $5.6 million advance.
However, by 2017, Chivayo publicly admitted he was "failing to commence works on the Gwanda Solar project" despite receiving the substantial upfront payment. Ten years later, the project remains incomplete.
Despite the Gwanda controversy, Chivayo was cleared of related charges in March 2023 through a successful application for refusal of further remand. Remarkably, his solar contract remained valid throughout the legal proceedings.
His wealth is evident in his lifestyle and generous gift-giving. Just two days ago, he surprised his lawyer, Advocate Edley Mubaiwa, with a brand-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz E300.
In January, he gifted popular Zimdancehall musician Tocky Vibes a Mercedes-Benz GLE350d valued at $90,000.
These public displays of wealth occur regularly, documented extensively on his social media platforms.
Chivayo's regional influence extends beyond Zimbabwe. Kenyans first encountered him in January 2025 when he shared photos from President Ruto's home, describing their meeting as "a very rare and extraordinary privilege."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by ZANU PF MIDLANDS INFORMATION DESK??? (@zanupf1_official)
His posts about African leaders are characterized by effusive praise and philosophical reflections on networking and success.
"The richest people in the world build networks. Competition happens at the bottom, people at the top are busy collaborating," he wrote after his Nairobi visit, adding that criticism wouldn't deter him from his "inevitable billionaire status.
