The long-dormant Gwanda National Solar Project has again come under the spotlight, this time after Nyanga legislator Supa Mandiwanzira raised concerns over another stalled 30-megawatt solar power project whose tender was awarded to businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.
Speaking during the Presidential Constituency Empowerment Fund programme in Nyanga, Mandiwanzira said the 30MW project, located in the Tangwena area of Dazi, had remained inactive for years despite early indications that it would take off during the era of former president Robert Mugabe. He recalled that roads were once rehabilitated in anticipation of a presidential ground-breaking ceremony that never happened.
Mandiwanzira said the community was now aware that Chivhayo won the tender and appealed for the project to be implemented urgently, arguing that the power generated would have a significant impact on livelihoods in the area. He directly appealed to presidential advisor Paul Tungwarara to help ensure the project is completed, citing his close association with Chivhayo.
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His remarks have revived memories of the troubled Gwanda National Solar Project, which has become a reference point for stalled energy investments in Zimbabwe. A Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy report presented to the National Assembly in 2018 detailed how procurement procedures were violated in the initial awarding of the Gwanda solar tender. The committee found that attempts were made to push out the original winning bidder, while the Zimbabwe Power Company recommended an additional award to China Jiangxi and Intratrek, in violation of the then State Procurement Act.
After the first tender was cancelled, a second tender was floated in 2015 and awarded to Intratrek Zimbabwe. A contract valued at more than US$183 million was signed between ZPC and Intratrek, with Chint Electric Company as the technical partner. However, when parliamentarians visited the site in February 2018, they found that no meaningful progress had been made, citing bureaucratic bungling and corruption as key factors behind the delays.
The renewed attention on stalled solar projects has also reignited public debate around Chivhayo’s profile. While major energy projects linked to his name remain incomplete, the businessman has attracted headlines for lavish spending, including a reported US$5 million birthday celebration and millions more spent on luxury vehicles, buses and cash gifts between 2024 and 2026.
However, recently in 2026, Chivhayo also recently donated US$300,000 to Scotland FC to fund the team’s pre-season training camp in South Africa, reinforcing his image as a high-profile benefactor.
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