Zambia drops Chivayo's SA based elections material supplier in favour of UAE company

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has signed a three-year contract with Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing, based in the United Arab Emirates, for the printing and delivery of ballot papers and election materials. 

This follows the termination of a previous agreement with South Africa's Ren Form CC, which failed to meet the conditions outlined in the tender requirements.

ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro confirmed the decision to award the contract to the second-best evaluated bidder, Al Ghurair Printing, during a media briefing in Lusaka. Kasaro reiterated the Commission’s focus on ensuring a transparent electoral process.

Ren Form CC, previously linked to Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, was involved in a controversial US$100 million tender for Zimbabwe's 2024 elections. 

Allegations of inflated costs in that deal have raised concerns about the company's credibility. Opposition parties in Zambia had raised objections to Ren Form CC’s potential involvement, citing issues tied to Chivayo in prior contracts.

Chivayo distanced himself from Ren Form CC late 2024 when the company won a US$60 million tender to supply Namibia's poll materials for that country's elections.