DA questions Ramaphosa’s Zimbabwe visit

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will submit parliamentary questions to determine whether public funds were used for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s private residence in Zimbabwe.

This follows reports that Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who is under investigation for alleged money laundering, was also present during the visit.

The Presidency says Ramaphosa was unaware of the invited guests at Mnangagwa’s private farm.

DA spokesperson on International Relations, Ryan Smith, says the Presidency should account for the purpose and cost of the trip.

Smith says, “South African taxpayers deserve to know whether they are footing the bill for the president to fraternise with those responsible for Zimbabwe’s captured state”.

“News reports have now confirmed that Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who formed part of the meeting delegation, is under investigation by South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre over allegations of money laundering to the value of more than R800 million in Zimbabwean public funds linked to the country’s 2023 general election. Chivayo’s bank accounts and high-value assets, allegedly to the value of R5 billion, were also frozen by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria,” Smith said.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Ramaphosa travelled to Zimbabwe at the invitation of Mnangagwa to discuss bilateral relations and regional matters.

Magwenya says the visit focused on relations between the two countries, which maintain strong historical and trade ties.

According to the Presidency, South African exports to Zimbabwe reached approximately US$4.3 billion in 2025, driven largely by agricultural products and machinery.

Magwenya says the President had no prior knowledge of who would attend the meeting.

“President Ramaphosa had no prior knowledge of who would be present during the visit, nor was he familiar with the said individual. The President flew to Zimbabwe for a meeting with his counterpart and nothing else,” Magwenya said.

He added that the President supports ongoing investigations and urged law enforcement agencies to continue their work “with no fear or hesitation”.

Ramaphosa is concerned about the Zimbabwean businessman


HE President @CyrilRamaphosa earlier today, undertook a working visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe for an engagement with his Zimbabwean counterpart, HE President Emmerson Mnangangwa, to discuss issues of mutual and bilateral interests.

South Africa and Zimbabwe maintain a… pic.twitter.com/DZID0gEYpK

— The Presidency (@PresidencyZA) May 3, 2026