Lusaka, Zambia — South African printing company Ren-Form CC, which has ties to controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has clinched a lucrative $14 million tender to print ballot papers in Zambia. The three-year contract strengthens the company’s influence in Southern Africa and beyond, raising concerns due to Chivayo’s history of contentious election-related contracts.
Ren-Form, widely known for its involvement in election materials across the region, has stirred debate over its expanding footprint. The firm, valued at over $100 million in past election deals, has previously faced scrutiny in Zimbabwe, where Chivayo has been a central figure in high-stakes government contracts. Despite controversies, Ren-Form has continued its rapid growth in the election printing sector, recently securing ballot printing contracts in Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Namibia.
Ren-Form’s client list includes electoral bodies in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Uganda, and Nigeria, indicating the company’s broad reach across the continent. While the company emphasizes its track record in providing secure and reliable printing services for elections, critics argue that its involvement in regional elections deserves closer examination, particularly given Chivayo’s controversial reputation.
As Zambia prepares for upcoming elections, the new contract underscores the country’s reliance on foreign companies for critical electoral processes. The deal with Ren-Form has sparked a debate among Zambian political analysts and observers who call for greater transparency and scrutiny to safeguard the credibility of the nation’s electoral procedures.
