Wicknell Chivayo death: New details emerge as family confirms burial plans and authorities examine helicopter wreckage

Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, are due to be buried in Harare on Thursday, 8 October, following the helicopter crash that killed six people.

The couple died when a private Bell 430 helicopter crashed at Kudenga Farm near Marondera, about 70km southeast of Harare, on Wednesday, 30 September. Police said all six people on board died in the crash.

Chivayo, who was in his 40s, was a prominent businessman known for his lavish lifestyle, philanthropy and close relationships with influential political figures across Africa. He was widely known by the name “Sir Wicknell”, although he did not hold a British knighthood.

Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths of the businessman and Muteke after the crash. The family has since announced that the couple will be laid to rest side by side at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare.

[do_widget id=super_rss_reader-3] –> –> The funeral will be open to members of the public, with the family saying mourners will be welcome both at the burial and at the family home in Gletwin Park. There will, however, be no body viewing because of the condition of the remains recovered after the crash.

The family spokesperson said the couple would be buried in separate graves next to each other, rather than in one grave.

“They will be buried side-by-side not in one grave. We cannot bury two people in one grave. We have never done that, we have never seen that,” he said.

He also rejected claims circulating on social media that several skulls had been recovered from the crash site.

“There has been speculation on social media saying that there were four head skulls that were found. That is not true. We did not find any head. There were some pieces of bones that were suspected to be head skulls but they were not. The last things that we found were Sir Wicknell’s wrist watch and my daughter in law’s watch,” he said.

The family has asked mourners to treat the burial with dignity as it prepares to say goodbye to the couple less than two weeks after the fatal crash.

The helicopter took off from Gandami in Chikomba, where Chivayo and his wife were building a rural home. It crashed about 40 minutes after take-off at Kudenga Farm.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said there were no survivors. Police reported that six people were on board, including two pilots. Chivayo and Muteke were among the passengers, while the other occupants have not all been publicly identified in the latest reports.

The helicopter came down at about 5pm local time. Emergency services were sent to the scene, and aviation officials and investigators began examining the wreckage the following day.

Zimbabwe’s Civil Aviation Authority recovered the aircraft’s black box, which was reported to be intact. The device could provide investigators with important information about the helicopter’s final moments, including flight data and cockpit communications, depending on the equipment recovered.

George Mashababe, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, said preliminary findings indicated that fuel spilled after impact and that a fire then spread across the grass at the crash site. The cause of the crash has not been established.

Investigators are still expected to examine the aircraft’s condition, weather and wind conditions, the flight path, maintenance records and the pilot’s decisions during the final stage of the flight. No final explanation has been released.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he was shocked by Chivayo’s sudden death and had met him just a day before the crash. The president described the family as philanthropic and said its generosity had touched many lives.

Kenyan President William Ruto also paid tribute to Chivayo, describing him as a dear friend and offering condolences to the family and Zimbabwe.

Chivayo built his public profile through Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company involved in major energy projects, including the long-delayed 100-megawatt Gwanda solar project. He also announced plans for renewable-energy projects outside Zimbabwe and was granted Eswatini citizenship and a diplomatic passport earlier this year, according to reports.

His wealth and political connections attracted regular public attention and scrutiny. He denied allegations of wrongdoing connected to his business dealings. A Zimbabwean anti-corruption investigation into allegations surrounding election-related contracts was closed in 2025 after authorities said they had found no evidence linking Chivayo or the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to wrongdoing.

He was also known for publicising luxury vehicle purchases, large cash gifts and donations to musicians, religious leaders and other public figures on social media.

Chivayo had previously served time in prison after a fraud conviction in 2004, but later built a successful business career, largely through government-linked contracts and major infrastructure projects.

As his family prepares for Thursday’s burial, the formal investigation into the helicopter crash remains open. The recovery of the black box may help investigators determine what caused the aircraft to go down, but authorities have not yet announced when a final report will be released.

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