Controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, have died in a helicopter crash in the Marondera Rural area, east of Harare.
The aircraft reportedly went down at approximately 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening. All six people on board were killed in the incident.
Police confirmed that the helicopter was carrying four passengers and two pilots. Emergency services attended the crash site, but there were no survivors.
Government Confirms No Survivors
The Zimbabwean government confirmed the incident shortly after emergency teams arrived at the scene.
"Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash," Mangwana stated.
"We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the victims, their families, and their friends during this difficult time," he added.
International Tributes
News of the crash prompted tributes across the region. Zimbabwean news outlet ZimLive was the first to report the deaths, followed by local media and journalists.
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed sadness over the loss of the businessman and his wife.
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend, Wicknell Chivayo, together with his wife, Lucy Muteke, and the other lives lost in the helicopter crash in Zimbabwe," Ruto wrote on social media.
A Life of Public Wealth and Controversy
Chivayo, aged 45, was born on 22 November 1980 in Chivhu, Zimbabwe. Known popularly as "Sir Wicknell", he earned a reputation for lavish spending and high-profile government contracts.
He was a vocal supporter of the ruling ZANU-PF party. He frequently shared photographs of expensive vehicles and gave large monetary gifts to musicians, journalists, and sports organisations.
His commercial career included significant state contracts alongside legal scrutiny. In 2011, authorities arrested him on eight counts of fraud and money laundering.
He later faced prosecution regarding an advance payment for the Gwanda Solar Project under his company, Intratrek Zimbabwe. Courts acquitted him of those charges in 2024.
In December 2025, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission found no evidence implicating him in a separate transaction.
In recent years, Chivayo expanded his business operations across Southern and East Africa. In June, his firm, IMC Construction Kenya, secured a stake in a proposed $2.9 billion infrastructure expansion project in Kenya.
He remained active on social media in the days preceding the crash, regularly posting updates about his business ventures and lifestyle. Authorities stated that investigations into the cause of the helicopter crash remain ongoing.
