Wicknell Chivayo Buried in Rolls-Royce Casket After Helicopter Crash — Wife Lulu Gets Mercedes

A Rolls-Royce casket carried Zimbabwean business magnate Wicknell Chivayo to his final resting place this week, marking one of the most extravagant funeral arrangements the continent has witnessed in recent memory. The controversial tycoon, whose flamboyant lifestyle made him a fixture across African social media, perished in a helicopter crash that stunned followers stretching from Harare to Johannesburg. Mourners gathered under a heavy sky as the luxury coffin — gleaming and ornate — arrived at the burial site surrounded by tight security and wailing supporters.

Chivayo, whose full name is Sir Wicknell Chivayo, allegedly built his fortune through government tenders and high-profile deals that drew both admiration and fierce scrutiny over the years. Authorities confirmed his helicopter went down under circumstances still under active investigation by Zimbabwean aviation officials. His wife, socialite Lulu Chivayo, is reportedly set to be interred in an equally striking Mercedes-Benz branded casket, the cost of which has not been disclosed publicly.

Zimbabwean Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Tafadzwa Mhaka told reporters that investigators are working to determine the precise mechanical or operational cause behind the fatal aircraft failure. SAPS and South African border officials confirmed heightened monitoring of movement linked to the Chivayo estate, given the family’s significant property interests across the Limpopo border. No foul play has been confirmed at this stage, authorities noted.

Chivayo rose to national prominence in Zimbabwe through his company Intratrek Zimbabwe, which secured a controversial multimillion-dollar solar energy contract that parliament scrutinised extensively. His name surfaced repeatedly in discussions around political patronage networks operating between Harare and Pretoria. Despite numerous controversies, he cultivated a massive following through lavish gift-giving on social media — distributing vehicles, cash, and luxury goods to fans.

One elderly woman standing outside the funeral venue clutched a photograph of Chivayo handing her a brand-new vehicle two years prior, tears streaming quietly down her weathered face as pallbearers carried the gleaming Rolls-Royce coffin past.

The dual designer caskets have ignited fierce debate about wealth, spectacle, and legacy across Zimbabwe and South Africa — with many questioning whether such excess honours the dead or simply extends a performance that defined Chivayo’s entire existence. Who, truly, were these funerals arranged for.