By Gabriel Manyati
An investigative report published by the Malawi-based outlet The National Voice has alleged that the late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo operated a sprawling illicit network involving arms and drugs across eight African countries, shielded by senior political figures that included regional presidents. The claims surface in the wake of the arrest of Malawi’s former defence force commander and Chivayo’s own sudden death in a helicopter crash.
According to the report, titled Chivayo: The Rise and Fall of an African Arms and Drugs Network and published on 8 October, the alleged network stretched across Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Chad, Sudan, South Africa and Eswatini. It claims arms were moved through Malawi’s Kamuzu International Airport into Sudan, with South Africa functioning as a financial hub.
The investigation cites United States intelligence as a source for parts of its findings. The National Voice has not made the full underlying documents public, and the allegations remain unverified by independent reporting.
Chivayo, a flamboyant figure known for high-profile government tenders, lavish gifts and frequent photographs with African leaders, died on 30 September when the helicopter carrying him, his wife Lucy Muteke and others crashed in the Marondera area of Zimbabwe. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors.
The following day, Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested retired General Paul Valentino Phiri. The bureau stated he faced “five counts relating to abuse of office and dealing in terrorist property”. It added that “the charges arise from allegations concerning his role in facilitating illegal arms trafficking in June and July 2025”.
Phiri, who served as Malawi Defence Force commander from July 2023 until October 2025, was granted bail on 2 October. Senior Resident Magistrate Shukrani Kumbani set a K10 million (approximately US$5,780) cash bond with two sureties each bonded at K20 million (US$11,536). He was ordered to report to police monthly, with the trial scheduled to begin on 12 November.
His lawyer, Powell Nkhutabasa, confirmed the outcome: “The General was informed of the reasons why he had been detained. After that, we made an application for bail, and the court has since released him on bail.”
Reporting by the Platform for Investigative Journalism in Malawi has described sources alleging that a cargo aircraft carrying heavy weaponry arrived at Kamuzu International Airport, where the load was briefly offloaded before being reloaded and flown onward. Documents reportedly listed the Malawi Defence Force as the end-user, while the weapons were said to be destined for Sudan via Chad. The Platform for Investigative Journalism stated it had not independently verified the flight details, manifests or intelligence reports.
Social media commentary quickly linked Phiri’s arrest to Chivayo, citing the Zimbabwean’s documented meetings with Malawian leaders, including former president Lazarus Chakwera in July 2025 and President Peter Mutharika on more than one occasion. Chivayo also maintained highly public relationships with Kenyan President William Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, among others. He was granted citizenship and a diplomatic passport by Eswatini’s King Mswati III earlier in 2026.
Mainstream accounts, including detailed analysis by Malawi24, note that while Chivayo’s regional access and the timing of Phiri’s arrest have fuelled speculation, available public evidence does not establish that the late businessman financed or organised the specific shipments under investigation. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has not publicly named Chivayo in connection with the charges against Phiri.
Separate reporting has examined broader questions about weapons and gold flows linked to Sudan’s conflict, including Kenyan-labelled ammunition crates identified in Rapid Support Forces areas and documented gold-export networks benefiting the RSF. None of those investigations has publicly tied Chivayo directly to the Malawi route.
The National Voice report portrays Chivayo’s business empire as extending well beyond the energy and infrastructure tenders that made him famous in Zimbabwe. Critics had long questioned the origins of his wealth, which included contracts such as the Gwanda solar project and extensive public displays of luxury cars and cash gifts. Supporters pointed to his philanthropy and political connections as evidence of legitimate success.
As the Phiri case proceeds to trial, investigators face the task of determining who authorised any end-user certificates, who financed the alleged movements of equipment, and whether official channels were used to obscure the true destination of cargo.
For now, the most serious claims against the late businessman rest on a single Malawian investigation that has yet to be independently corroborated. All those named remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.
