Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo (43) and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, were among six people killed when a helicopter crashed in rural Marondera, east of Harare, on Wednesday evening.
The aircraft went down at about 5pm on September 30 in the Marondera Rural area of Mashonaland East Province. Zimbabwean authorities confirmed that there were no survivors.
Chivayo, a prominent businessman known for his energy and infrastructure interests, high-profile political connections and conspicuous displays of wealth. His death was subsequently confirmed by his family after authorities initially withheld the identities of those killed while emergency teams worked at the crash site.
Police confirm fatal crash
The Zimbabwe Republic Police was first to confirm that an aircraft had crashed in Marondera.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said emergency personnel had been dispatched to the scene and that authorities would provide more information once the situation had been assessed.
“The ZRP confirms a plane crash in Marondera Rural area at 1700 hours this evening. The aircraft had six occupants. More details will be released in due course as the scene is currently being attended,” police said in their initial statement.
Nyathi later indicated that the victims had suffered severe burns, making formal identification necessary.
“They were burned, there was a fire and we will be trying to identify the people,” Nyathi said, according to the Associated Press.
The early police statement did not identify the occupants.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana subsequently confirmed that there were no survivors.
“The government wishes to confirm that a helicopter crash has occurred, involving one high-profile businessman, three other passengers, and two pilots,” Mangwana said.
“Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash.”
Mangwana expressed condolences to the victims, their families and friends.
There were initially inconsistencies in official descriptions of the number of passengers, but police and subsequent reporting established that six people were aboard the aircraft. Reuters reported that Mangwana initially described the aircraft as carrying a high-profile businessman, four other passengers and two pilots before the government statement was amended.
Family confirms Chivayo and his wife died
As authorities worked to identify the victims, Chivayo’s family confirmed that he and Muteke were among those killed.
Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo told ZBC News that the family was struggling to comprehend what had happened.
“We are at a loss for words after the tragic incident,” he said.
Herbert Chivayo also confirmed to The Herald that Wicknell and his wife had died.
“Yes, we confirm that Wicknell Chivayo and his wife have perished in this tragedy,” he said.
The family confirmation was significant because police had not initially released the identities of the deceased, with the crash scene requiring emergency response and formal identification procedures.
The other victims have not been comprehensively identified in the initial official statements.
What happened in Marondera
The crash occurred in a rural part of Marondera, approximately 70 kilometres east of Harare.
The helicopter came down at a farm near Waddilove Mission at around 5pm. Emergency responders attended the site after the aircraft went down and caught fire.
At this stage, authorities have not publicly established what caused the helicopter to crash.
There has been no official finding confirming mechanical failure, pilot error, weather conditions, fuel problems, sabotage or any other specific explanation.
That means claims circulating about the circumstances of the crash should be treated cautiously until investigators release evidence.
The investigation is expected to establish the aircraft’s flight path, condition, operating history, weather conditions, pilot actions and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.
Investigations into the cause were under way and that police would issue a detailed report in due course.
Chivayo was one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable businessmen
Chivayo built a public profile through his business interests, particularly Intratrek Zimbabwe and major energy and infrastructure projects.
One of the projects most closely associated with his name was the Gwanda Solar Project, a proposed 100-megawatt solar development awarded to Intratrek in 2014.
The project became the subject of a long-running dispute and delays. In September 2026, shortly before his death, Intratrek was preparing to resume work following a new directive from the Zimbabwe Power Company. The revised project cost was expected to be below US$132 million, compared with the original contract value of about US$172 million, with the company expected to complete the development within 24 months.
Chivayo’s business dealings had attracted public scrutiny over the years, particularly where his companies were linked to government contracts.
He denied wrongdoing in relation to allegations surrounding his business activities and defended his record.
A highly public private life
Beyond business, Chivayo had become a major social-media personality.
He frequently documented his wealth, luxury vehicles, international travel, political connections and relationships with celebrities, sports personalities and religious leaders.
He was also known for publicly giving away large amounts of money and expensive vehicles.
Hours before his death, Chivayo had made what would become his final widely reported social-media post, in which he announced gifts for two lawyers he said had supported him over many years.
He described the gesture as part of an “Endless Queue of appreciation”.
According to reports, lawyer Wilson Tatenda Manase was to receive a 2026 Lexus GX 550 and US$250,000, while Advocate Sylvester Hashiti was offered a Range Rover Sport Autobiography and US$500,000.
The post was published on the morning of September 30, several hours before the helicopter crashed.
It has since attracted considerable attention because it was his final public communication before his death.
His relationship with African political leaders
Chivayo’s public profile extended beyond Zimbabwe.
He maintained highly visible relationships with senior political figures around the continent, particularly Kenyan President William Ruto.
The two had been photographed together on numerous occasions, including at Kenya’s State House and at Ruto’s private residence.
In August, Chivayo shared footage of Ruto personally driving him and Muteke towards a helicopter after they attended a traditional engagement ceremony involving Ruto’s daughter, Charlene.
Ruto has now publicly mourned Chivayo.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend, Wicknell Chivayo, together with his wife, Lucy Muteke, and the other lives lost in the helicopter crash in Zimbabwe,” Ruto said.
“Wicknell was a dear friend whose warmth touched many people. I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent.”
Ruto also conveyed his condolences to Chivayo’s family, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe.
“May God grant Wicknell, Lucy and all those who perished eternal rest,” he said.
Chivayo had also been photographed with other African leaders, including Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Eswatini’s King Mswati III.
Questions remain over the cause
Despite the confirmation of the deaths, several important questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not yet released a full preliminary accident report explaining why the aircraft crashed.
The precise circumstances immediately before the crash have also not been publicly established.
Investigators will need to determine the helicopter’s registered operator, flight history, maintenance records, route, communications, weather conditions and the circumstances surrounding the pilots’ final moments before the aircraft went down.
The fact that the aircraft caught fire and that the victims were badly burned has also complicated the identification process.
For now, there is no verified evidence establishing a particular cause.
A sudden loss that has reverberated across the region
Chivayo’s death brings an abrupt end to the life of one of Zimbabwe’s most publicly visible businessmen.
His career combined energy and infrastructure ventures with an unusually prominent social-media presence and relationships with influential figures across Southern and East Africa.
His wife, Lucy Muteke, was also known publicly through her relationship with Chivayo and their appearances together at social and high-profile events. The couple married in 2025.
Their deaths, together with those of the other four people aboard the helicopter, have prompted condolences from political leaders, business figures and members of the public.
But while tributes have begun, the official investigation into the crash is only at its early stages.
Zimbabwean authorities have yet to publish a definitive explanation for what brought the helicopter down in Marondera.
