Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Chivayo's home/ZBCZimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has today joined mourners at the Harare home of businessman Wicknell Chivayo, days after the prominent entrepreneur died alongside his wife and three others in a helicopter crash.
Mnangagwa visited the Chivayo family to offer his condolences following the Wednesday crash in Marondera.
Chivayo has since been accorded Provincial Hero status, paving the way for the State to meet the costs associated with his funeral.
The decision was announced by Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire, who said President Mnangagwa had conferred the honour on the late businessman.
“President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has granted late businessman Wicknell Chivayo Provincial Hero status,” Machakaire said in announcing the decision.
The designation has placed Chivayo among Zimbabweans recognised by the government for their contribution to their communities and the country.
At the family home in Gletwin, Harare, preparations for the funeral continued as relatives, friends and prominent figures gathered to mourn the businessman and his wife.
United Family International Church founder Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and his wife were among those who visited the family to pay their respects.
Makandiwa's visit came days after he had dinner with Chivayo on September 25.
The cleric was closely associated with Chivayo, who was known for his philanthropy and high-profile donations.
Reports have also indicated that Makandiwa and his wife received gifts worth more than $2 million from Chivayo.
The funeral has since shifted to Chivayo's sprawling Gletwin mansion.
Earlier reports had indicated that he would be buried on his family’s ancestral land in Gandami village, Wiltshire, in the Chivhu area of Chikomba, Mashonaland East.
Zimbabwe media reported that security around the residence remained tight, with journalists from independent media organisations reportedly barred from accessing the home.
Guards at the gate told journalists: “Only ZBC allowed,” referring to Zimbabwe's state broadcaster.
Meanwhile, details continued to emerge about the other victims of the crash.
Senelisiwe Magagula, who worked as an aide to Lucy Chivayo, was among the five people who died when the helicopter crashed in Marondera.
The other victims included pilots Captain Kelvin T Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa.
Captain Calvin Tafirei Soda, who was piloting the helicopter, is scheduled to be buried in Marondera on Sunday.
Mourners have described Soda as a dedicated aviator and a unifying figure. He is survived by his wife, Shamiso, and their three children.
The crash has triggered an outpouring of grief across Zimbabwe, with tributes continuing to be sent to the families of those who died as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident continue.
