Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, were buried side by side on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare.
The couple died on 30 September when a helicopter crashed near Marondera.
1. Car-inspired caskets
Two white caskets drew the most attention. Chivayo was well known for his fleet of expensive vehicles, which he often showed off publicly, and the designs reflected that.
Chivayo’s carried a black, luxury-car-style grille and the marking WMC 777. It is a personalised plate linked to him and his fleet.
Lucy’s casket had a front modelled on a Mercedes-Maybach, along with the name LULU. Both had gold-coloured handles, and flowers and candles were placed around them.
2. A convoy through the capital
The hearses left the funeral parlour in a convoy of Rolls-Royces and Mercedes-Benz cars. They travelled to the couple’s Gletwyn home, where the remains lay in state overnight.
Thousands of mourners filled the city centre. Police closed roads,
including Kwame Nkrumah and Harare Street, to manage the traffic.
3. The flag and the procession
Chivayo’s coffin was draped in the green, yellow and red of the Zimbabwean flag. President Emmerson Mnangagwa had conferred provincial hero status on him.
The coffin was loaded onto a vehicle and driven through the streets. Police officers in yellow vests provided protection.
4. The setting
Photographs showed mourners arriving from across the country. A formal police presence stood alongside a large civilian crowd.
During the service, one of Lucy’s sisters was seen in tears while relatives seated close by comforted her.
Hours of prayers, speeches and tributes were held at the family home before the burial.
5. The final farewell
The procession moved slowly through Harare as crowds watched in silence. Chivayo was a prominent and often controversial figure in Zimbabwe, known for his public profile and his philanthropy. His death and funeral drew strong reactions, with some mourning him and others questioning the scale of the send-off.
