Images from the crash site of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo's helicopter have revealed the extent of the wreckage.
State broadcaster ZBC News reported live from Marondera, where the aircraft went down.
The crash killed six people on board, including Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, two passengers, and two pilots.
Crash Site Sealed Off
The media reported that emergency services and security authorities sealed off the crash area overnight.
The bodies of the six victims remained at the site until Thursday morning before being transported to local mortuaries.
ZBC News gained closer access to the wreckage after sunrise, showing the extent of the damage.
Flight Path and Final Moments
According to official sources, the helicopter departed Chivayo's rural home in Gandami, Chikomba, at 4:20 pm.
The group was travelling back towards the capital city of Harare.
Forty minutes later, at approximately 5:00 pm, the aircraft crashed at Kudenga Farm in Marondera. Police confirmed that the aircraft went down shortly after departure, though the official cause remains unknown.
Scattered Debris and Burned Landscape
Visuals from the crash site showed a long, blackened stretch of grass burned by the helicopter.
The aircraft travelled a considerable distance across the ground from the initial point of impact. Parts of the wreckage were scattered across the field, including the wings and the tail of the chopper.
Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo confirmed the deaths of the couple to ZBC News. Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi stated that the bodies suffered severe burns, requiring formal identification.
Chivayo, a Polarising Figure
Wicknell Chivayo, aged 45, was one of Zimbabwe's most prominent and polarising figures.
He earned the nickname "Sir Wicknell" and accumulated wealth through various commercial ventures and state contracts.
Over his lifetime, Chivayo distributed an estimated US $60 million in cash, houses, and over 150 luxury vehicles.
His donations targeted musicians, sports teams, church leaders, and direct community causes.
Chivayo faced several legal battles during his career, including fraud charges related to the Gwanda Solar Project.
Courts acquitted him of those charges in 2024, and anti-corruption investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing in separate transactions.
Investigators remain on site at Kudenga Farm to determine what caused the fatal crash.
