Prominent Zimbabwean Businessman Wicknell Chivayo and Wife Killed in Helicopter Crash
Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife Lucy Muteke died alongside four others in a helicopter crash in Marondera on Wednesday. Family members and government officials confirmed that the aircraft went down shortly after taking off from Chikomba.
According to reporting from BBC News Africa, prominent Zimbabwean executive Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were killed in a helicopter crash in the Marondera rural area on Wednesday evening. The accident occurred approximately 70 kilometers east of Harare at roughly 17:00 local time. Authorities confirmed that all six individuals on board the aircraft lost their lives, including two pilots and two additional passengers whose identities were not immediately released by law enforcement.
Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths of the businessman and his wife during an interview with state broadcaster ZBC, sharing that the family was deeply shaken by the sudden loss. Government officials stated that the helicopter had departed from Gandami in Chikomba, where Chivayo and Muteke were in the process of constructing a rural residence. According to state media reports, the aircraft crashed at Kudenga Farm about 40 minutes into the flight.
Government spokesman Nick Mangwana publicly confirmed the incident on social media platform X, reporting that an aircraft carrying a high-profile figure, three passengers, and two crew members had crashed with no survivors. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi stated that emergency responders were deployed to the location on Wednesday evening and confirmed that official investigations into the cause of the crash are currently underway. Chivayo served as the managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe and maintained a massive public profile marked by extensive government contracts, public philanthropy, and widespread social media visibility.
Widely known by the moniker Sir Wicknell, a title he used publicly despite never receiving an official British knighthood, Chivayo frequently gained attention for gifting high-end luxury vehicles and significant monetary payments to musicians, religious leaders, and public figures. His corporate activities frequently attracted public and regulatory attention. Among his primary commercial projects was a $172 million solar energy initiative in Gwanda awarded to Intratrek Zimbabwe by the state-owned Zimbabwe Power Company, which became embroiled in prolonged legal disputes over several years.
Additionally, inquiries were raised regarding his involvement in procurement processes tied to the 2023 Zimbabwean elections. The nation anti-corruption commission reviewed contract arrangements involving South African firm Ren-Form but officially closed its investigation in 2025 after finding no evidence of wrongdoing by Chivayo or election officials. Chivayo also cultivated relationships with prominent political figures across the African continent. Kenyan President William Ruto publicly paid tribute following news of the crash, describing Chivayo as a close friend and praising his energy and commitment to continental growth.
Over the years, Chivayo frequently shared photographs documenting his meetings with various regional leaders, including Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and King Mswati III of Eswatini.