Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke have died in a helicopter crash that claimed six lives in total, according to confirmation from his family. The aircraft descended in the Marondera rural district, approximately 70 kilometres east of Harare, on Wednesday evening. All six occupants perished in the incident, police confirmed.
Family representative Herbert Chivayo informed state media that both the businessman and his wife were among those killed, describing the family as devastated by the tragedy. Chivayo had built a reputation as a high-profile entrepreneur with connections to numerous African leaders and a history of securing major government contracts, though his business dealings had faced repeated scrutiny over the years.
The helicopter came down at approximately 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT), according to Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi. The aircraft was carrying six people total, including two pilots. The group had departed from Gandami in Chikomba, where Chivayo and his wife were constructing a residential property, and crashed at Kudenga Farm roughly 40 minutes after take-off.
Government spokesman Nick Mangwana announced the crash publicly, stating the helicopter carried
"a prominent businessman, three other passengers and two pilots"and that
"current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash."
What caused the crash?
The precise cause remains under investigation. On Thursday, aviation authorities led by Transport Minister Felix Mhona attended the crash site to begin their inquiry. Investigators recovered the aircraft's black box, which remained intact following impact.
George Mashababe, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, reported that
"preliminary findings show that fuel spilled on impact, followed by a fire that burnt the grass at the crash site"but stressed that
"the cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained."Emergency services attended the scene on Wednesday evening, and recovery operations continued into Thursday as forensic specialists worked to identify the deceased.
Who was Wicknell Chivayo?
Chivayo served as managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe and had cultivated a prominent public presence through government contracts, charitable activities and frequent displays of wealth across social media platforms. He was commonly known by the self-styled title "Sir Wicknell," though he had never received a British knighthood.
His most prominent business venture involved a $172 million solar power initiative in Gwanda that was awarded to Intratrek by the state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company. The project became embroiled in legal disputes spanning years. Chivayo and Intratrek were acquitted in 2024 in a case concerning an advance payment for the Gwanda Solar Project.
Chivayo also faced examination regarding procurement procedures for Zimbabwe's contested 2023 elections. Zimbabwe's anti-corruption commission investigated allegations surrounding contracts awarded to South African company Ren-Form but concluded its inquiry in 2025. The commission said it found no evidence directly implicating Chivayo in the transaction it investigated. He had consistently denied allegations of impropriety connected to his commercial operations.
How did Chivayo gain prominence?
Beyond his corporate activities, Chivayo cultivated a public image through philanthropic gestures and high-profile social media engagement. He became known for distributing luxury automobiles and substantial cash gifts to musicians, religious figures and other public personalities, regularly publicising these donations online.
His network extended across the African continent. He frequently shared photographs documenting his meetings with heads of state, including Zambia's Hakainde Hichilela, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan and Eswatini's King Mswati III. Kenya's President William Ruto, who had previously appeared publicly alongside Chivayo, issued a statement expressing sorrow at his passing. Ruto described Chivayo as a "dear friend" and sent condolences to the families of all those killed, adding that he would "remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent."
Kenyan opposition figures had previously questioned Chivayo's frequent access to Ruto and State House, raising concerns about the nature of their relationship and the businessman's influence on government circles.
Key Facts
- All six people aboard the helicopter died when it crashed near Marondera on Wednesday evening, approximately 70 kilometres east of Harare
- The aircraft came down at Kudenga Farm roughly 40 minutes after departing from Gandami in Chikomba
- Chivayo's Intratrek Zimbabwe managed a $172 million solar power project in Gwanda that faced years of legal disputes
- The businessman maintained connections with multiple African presidents and frequently publicised these relationships on social media
- Investigations into the crash's cause are ongoing, with the aircraft's black box recovered intact
