UAE Sends Condolences to Zimbabwe After Wicknell Chivayo Helicopter Crash

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement expressing solidarity with Zimbabwe after the fatal crashWicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and three others died when their helicopter went down at Kudenga Farm in Marondera on September 30, 2026Several African heads of state, including Kenya's William Ruto and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa, paid tribute to the businessmanPAY ATTENTION: Mark YEN.com.gh as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!

The United Arab Emirates has officially expressed its condolences to Zimbabwe following the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke and three other passengers.

UAE offers condolences to Zimbabwe following Wicknell Chivayo’s fatal helicopter crash. Image credit: irisprojects/Instagram, Wicknell Chivayo/FB Source: UGCThe UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal statement offering sympathy to the victims' families, to the Zimbabwean government and to the Zimbabwean people.

Chivayo, his wife and the three others aboard, including two pilots and a security aide, died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, when their helicopter came down at Kudenga Farm in Marondera, in the Mashonaland region of northeastern Zimbabwe.

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The couple had been at Gandami in Chikomba District earlier that day, where construction of their rural home was under way.

They departed the site at approximately 4:20 pm, and the aircraft crashed roughly 40 minutes into the journey.

Debris was scattered across the farm, and the helicopter is reported to have travelled several metres from the point of initial impact before coming to rest.

Chivayo was widely recognised for his extravagant lifestyle, high-profile associations and prominent displays of wealth. His passing, alongside that of his wife, marks a significant loss in Zimbabwean business circles.

The couple is scheduled to be buried on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Chivayo's home in Glen Forest.

The crash drew tributes from several African heads of state in the days that followed.

Kenya's President William Ruto, who had welcomed Chivayo to State House in Nairobi on more than one occasion, described him as a personal friend in a post on X.

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Ruto spoke of the businessman's warmth, energy and conviction in Africa's future.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who maintained a close relationship with Chivayo despite the notable gap in their ages, also mourned publicly.

Mnangagwa noted that the loss was felt both personally and by the ruling ZANU-PF party, and urged the family to mourn with hope.

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan described Chivayo as a forward-thinking young entrepreneur whose impact was felt widely across the continent.

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Ruth Sekyi (Entertainment Editor) Ruth Esi Amfua Sekyi is a Human Interest Editor at YEN.com.gh with 4+ years’ experience across radio, print, TV, and digital media. She holds a B.A. in Communications (PR) from UNIMAC-IJ. Her media career began at Radio GIJ (campus radio), followed by Prime News Ghana. At InstinctWave, she worked on business content, playing major role in events organized by the company. She also worked with ABC News GH, updating their site, served as Production Assistant. In 2025, Ruth completed the ECOWAS, GIZ, and MFWA Information Integrity training. Email: ruth.sekyi@yen.com.gh